PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite scoring three consecutive goals, T2 were unable to overcome a four-goal deficit in a 4-3 loss against OKC Energy FC in front of 2,433 fans on Saturday night at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.
T2 (8-12-2, 26pts) fell behind OKC Energy FC (10-5-7, 37pts) as forward Danni König scored a hat-trick and forward Kyle Greig added another goal to give Energy FC a 4-0 lead in the first half. Portland mounted a comeback and was able to pull three goals back to make it 4-3 by the 79th minute. Portland rallied as midfielder George Fochive scored at the stroke of halftime, recovering the ball at midfield and driving down the field, shaking off a defender, before firing a low drive inside the near post and into the back of the net to make it 4-1 in the 45th minute.
Fochive completed his brace to make it 4-2 in the 46th minute as he received a pass from midfielder Michael Nanchoff and finished with a powerful drive across the face of goal and inside the far post to make it 4-2.
“The message to the guys is you can’t give up and that you have to push,” said Jay Vidovich, head coach of T2. “They have it within them.They’re going to have to have the mental toughness to get after a game and take it over.”
Portland continued pressing in the second half and were rewarded as Michael Seaton, acquired by the Portland Timbers from D.C. United on Thursday, cut Portland’s deficit to one goal in the 79th minute. He received a pass from Nanchoff, split two defenders and finished between the legs of Evan Newton the OKC goalkeeper to make it 4-3.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 remain at home to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Merlo Field in Portland; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Tickets for Saturday’s T2 match are available online by clicking here. The match will also be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
T2 (8-12-2, 26pts) vs. OKC Energy FC (10-5-7, 37pts)
August 8, 2015 – Merlo Field (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 1 2 3
OKC 4 0 4
Scoring Summary
OKC: König (Toth), 19
OKC: Greig (Duke), 29
OKC: König, 31
OKC: König, 34
POR: Fochive, 45
POR: Fochive (Nanchoff), 46
POR: Seaton (Nanchoff), 79
Misconduct Summary
OKC: Dalgaard (Caution), 7
POR: Fochive (Caution), 75
POR: Jeanderson (Caution), 81
OKC: Evans (Caution), 83
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Gleeson, D Thoma, D Peay, D Manning, D Jeanderson, M Besler (Gavin, 72), M Fochive, M Winchester (Bodily, 63), M Nanchoff ©, M Fatawu, F Belmar (Seaton, 63)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Luthy, D Evans, D Farfan, M Payne
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6
OKC: GK Newton, D Thomas ©, D Hendrick, D VanCompernolle, D Duke, M Townsend (Doue, 69), M Evans, M Toth (Gonzalez, 51), M Dalgaard (Harris, 89), F Greig (Andrews, 82), F König
Substitutes Not Used: GK Clark, M Byskov, F Daley
TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 10; FOULS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Andrew Marihart, Bennett Savage
4th Official: Ben Goodman
Attendance: 2,433
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 75 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Post-game Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Jay Vidovich
On changes made after the first half…
“I think we pressed their personality. We challenged their personality and their willingness to dig themselves out of a hole. We discussed that they’re going to have to start organizing and paying attention to details and they’re going to help themselves through it. They have to get themselves more compact and not be scared to play. It was pushing them high on the field. It was asking them to close space more, win the ball back and show their talent on the ball.”
On Michael Seaton’s goal tonight and addition to the club…
“That is why we brought him to the club. He’s a physical talent. He’s got some technique. He likes to go at goal, he runs at goal and he found one. Hopefully it continues that way.”
On having two straight games coming up at home…
“The Army and the supporters here [are great]. How fantastic was it that they stayed here until the very end. That they pushed at halftime and they didn’t leave. I mean you can’t ask for much more. So, not having to go through the rigors of travel, we can’t ask for a better opportunity.”
On the message to the team after the match…
“The message to the guys is one that in life you can’t give up and that you have to push. Also, you have to be an aggressor. You can’t wait until you’ve gotten beaten up to throw your first punch. How you respond to that first goal determines your fate. Second, we just discussed this, you can’t go from training one way to playing another. It has to be consistent and apparent all the time coming out and working harder. That’s something we have to push. They’re going to have to really see it. They have to dig in to play. So, I think that’s the takeaway. They have it within them. They’re going to have to push. They’re going to have to have the mental toughness to get after a game and take it over.”
On the positives from the second half…
“Once again part of it is the quality of certain players stepped up. Two players have played in the first team. Michael Nanchoff gives the ball to George [Fochive] for the second goal. Nanchoff also gives a chance to Michael Seaton for a goal. So, their qualities stepped on up, they read it and the other guys followed them.”
T2 midfielder George Fochive
On what changes were made at halftime…
“I think it was all about details. [To be] careful in the passes that we made up top that allowed us to hold the ball. To be careful in the back, marking guys up and not letting guys get in front of you on crosses. That’s what hurt us. They scored four tap ins and it gave them four goals. It was a tough comeback for us but at least the team tried to fight back and that’s the positive we’re going to take out of the game.”
On his two goals…
“The first one I think I picked up the ball in the middle and there was some space to run in to. I was initially going to pass to Fatawu on the left side but the defender read that so I cut inside and shot. The second one Nanchoff was holding the ball pretty well and I made a run into space and took a quick shot.”
On what it takes for a team to make a comeback
“Obviously it takes character [to make a comeback]. A lot of the guys have character. We went into the game really soft. I don’t know what happened. I think everyone knew we had to do something so I think everyone realized we had to pick it up. When everyone’s on the same page obviously it shows.”
T2 forward Michael Seaton
On his first game…
“It was wonderful. This is a great atmosphere to play in. They’re welcoming. Even on the flight that I came here on the people gave me a standing ovation on the plane so that was a good feeling. Then coming into the game I had to get some jitters out but getting the goal helps me in the long run.”
On his goal…
“I don’t know who passed it. I think I passed it and he took it off me. Once he turned I realized that I could just take off. He just left it for me. I took a couple dribbles and I watch Suarez a lot, so the chops, the chops in the box [are vital]. I knew I could get him because I was in front of him anyway and he knew I was going to shoot it so I chopped him. It came in a flick and I just put it through the keepers legs.”
On scoring in his debut in Portland…
“Wonderful because I heard the first team coaching staff was there but I was trying to get that out of my mind because as a young player you get nervous off the little things and I wasn’t trying to do that. Getting my first goal, that was good.”
On what it was like to play at Merlo with the fans being behind the club…
“It’s wonderful because on the sideline I thought the fans were going to give up because even in Jamaica sometimes you would lose and the fans would give up on you and not cheer you on. I realized this club is behind you 100% even if you’re losing 10-0 they’re still cheering on. That gave me the energy to come on and I just wanted to give a good impression.”
