COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Playing their final match of a three-game road swing, T2 conceded twice in the first half of a 3-1 loss against fellow USL expansion side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC before 3,726 fans at Sand Creek Stadium on Wednesday night.
T2 (4-6-2, 14pts) conceded an early first-half brace to Switchbacks FC forward Miguel Gonzalez and were unable to get back on level terms. Late in the second half, T2’s Brent Richards tallied his first goal of the season in the 84th minute to pull one back for Portland. T2 pushed forward in the second half looking to equalize, outshooting their opponents (6-5) and forcing three saves from Colorado Springs goalkeeper Devala Gorrick.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (6-5-0, 18pts) took an early 1-0 lead in the 25th minute as Gonzalez’s left-footed shot from outside the box beat goalkeeper Jake Gleeson. Colorado Springs jumped ahead 2-0 just 10 minutes later as Gonzalez completed his brace after receiving a pass from midfielder Luke Vercollone on the left side of the box. Switchbacks FC added a third goal to make it 3-0 in the 47th minute after another assist by Vercollone inside the box, this time to midfielder Shintaro Harada.
Before Richards tallied Portland’s goal, T2 midfielder Fatawu Safiu took a powerful shot in the 68th minute from the top of the box, but Gorrick was able to parry the effort away.
Following Wednesday’s match, T2 will return home to face the Austin Aztex at Merlo Field in Portland, Ore., on Sunday, June 14; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific).
Tickets for Sunday’s T2 match are available at the Providence Park box office and online by clicking here.
T2 (4-6-2, 14pts) at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (6-5-0, 18pts)
June 10, 2015 – Sandy Creek Stadium (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Switchbacks FC 2 1 3
T2 0 1 1
Scoring Summary
COS: Gonzalez, 25
COS: Gonzalez (Vercollone), 35
COS: Harada (Vercollone), 47
POR: Richards, 84
Misconduct Summary
POR: Fatawu (Caution), 76
COS: Bejarano (Caution), 90
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Gleeson, D Richards, D Peay, D Delbridge, D Jeanderson, M Payne (Besler, 67), M Gavin ©, M Nanchoff, F Winchester (Thoma, 67), F Belmar, F Tshuma (Fatawu, 46)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Luthy, D Evans, M Casiple
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 7; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 4
COS: GK Gorrick, D Burt (McGuiness, 67), D Phillips, D Greer, D Bejarano, M Argueta, M Harada (Armstrong, 81), M Vercollone © (Durr, 90), F Gonzalez, F King (Maybin 71), F Seth (Robinson, 71)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Badr, D Smith
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant Referees: Kyle Gilliland, Ben Oakley
4th Official: Justin Filmore
Attendance: 3,726
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 67 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
