PORTLAND, Ore. – Heading into Week 12 of the 2017 USL season, T2 will go on the road to face Real Monarchs SLC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, June 10. Set to begin at 6 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
The match on Saturday marks the second of three matches between the two clubs in 2017, as the final matchup will take place Saturday, Sept. 9, at Providence Park. In six all-time meetings between the two teams, the series is tied 2-2-2. In the first matchup between the two clubs this season, T2 fell 2-1 to Real Monarchs 2-1 at Providence Park in the home opener on March 25.
T2 (1-10-1, 4pts) enter Saturday’s contest looking to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Cascadia-rival Whitecaps FC 2 at Providence Park on June 4. WFC2 scored the game-winning goal in the 56th minute after midfielder Marco Bustos slotted his penalty attempt past T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh. Portland, which outshot Vancouver 15-10 in the match, nearly scored when midfielder Ben Zemanski floated in a cross from the right wing that picked out forward Augustine Williams, and his strong header forced the Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey into a save in the 62nd minute. T2 almost leveled the match in stoppage time when defender Harold Hanson dribbled past two defenders inside the box and fired a right-footed shot that was parried aside by Richey in the 91st minute. Midfielder Villyan Bijev leads Portland with three goals this season, while Williams and midfielder Victor Arboleda have two tallies apiece.
Real Monarchs (10-1-0, 30pts) enter Saturday’s match following a 1-0 win over Orange County SC on the road at Orange County Great Park on June 3, which extended a seven-game winning streak. As a team, Monarchs SLC are tied with San Antonio FC for the best record in the league, and lead the USL in goals scored (28). Individually, forward Chandler Hoffman leads the team and ranks tied for second in the USL with seven goals scored. Additionally, goalkeeper Connor Sparrow leads the team with 16 saves and three shutouts in five appearances.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 return home to host OKC Energy FC at Providence Park on Friday, June 16; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
