PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing in their final home match of the 2015 USL season, T2 were unable to overcome a three-goal deficit in the first half, falling 3-0 against Sacramento Republic FC in front of 5,892 fans at Providence Park on Saturday night.
Portland (10-15-2, 32pts) outshot Sacramento 9-5 in the second half, but were unable to find a goal. Forward Michael Seaton fired a shot from close range, forcing a reaction save from Republic FC goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek in the 51st minute. Midfielder Fatawu Safiu led Portland with four shots on the night. In the first half, Fatawu’s powerful free kick was parried away just wide of the goal in the 20th minute by Jakubek.
“We felt like in the second-half we were able to win the ball back much higher. We had some opportunities coming off of passing sequences and clever moments,” said T2 head coach Jay Vidovich. “Those were all positives in the second-half.”
Sacramento Republic FC (13-8-3, 42pts) midfielder Rodrigo Lopez opened the scoring in the 13th minute, sending a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the top, left corner of the goal in the 13th minute. Forward Justin Braun extended Republic FC’s lead with consecutive goals in the 33rd and 34th minutes to put Sacramento in front 3-0.
Playing in their final match of their inaugural USL season, T2 travel to square off against LA Galaxy II on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
T2 (10-15-2, 32pts) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (13-8-5, 44pts)
Sept. 12, 2015 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
SAC Republic FC 3 0 3
T2 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
SAC: Lopez, 12
SAC: Braun (Barrera), 33
SAC: Braun, 34
Misconduct Summary
SAC: Mirkovic (Caution), 42
POR: Fatawu (Caution), 65
POR: Thoma (Caution), 79
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Gleeson, D Fisher (Seaton, 45), D Payne, D Manning, D Thoma, M Besler, M Gavin ©, M Asprilla, M Fatawu, M Jeanderson, F Belmar (Winchester, 88)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Luthy, D Richards, M Bodily, M Casiple, F Biglieri
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3
SAC: GK Jakubek, D Klimenta, D Daley (Foran, 89), D Vukovic, D Kiffe, M Barrera, M Lopez, M Cazarez (Motagalvan, 89), M Mirkovic (Gisse, 74), F Braun © (Alvarez, 79), F Stewart (Sherrod, 80)
Substitutes Not Used: F Iwasa, F Gabeljic
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Warren, Andrew Marihart
4th Official: Ben Oakley
Attendance: 5,892
Weather: Sunny, 88
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Jay Vidovich
On planning moving forward…
“It is a disappointing end to time at Providence Park. It shows the strength of our fans that they stayed with us through the end. Moving forward, lots of guys are playing for contracts and opportunites to stay with the Timbers too. That will happen again when we play LA [Galaxy II]. It’s another opportunity for people to put a final statement in terms of do they want to be a part of what’s going on here. Some players we’ll continue working with through the rest of the MLS season, some people will be gone and there will be some player identification and recruitment. [We will] see if we can’t find players that can help build the club, build T2 as well as help with the first team.”
On his thoughts of the inaugural T2 season...
“I think it’s been a tremendous learning experience for everyone, from the players to myself. Just what needs to be done in terms of identifying players and personalities that can come in and help, that’s on the administrative and coaching side. I think one of the biggest benefits this year has been the ability to give minutes to the Taylor Peay’s, George Fochive’s, to help a Will Johnson get back in fitness. Those were opportunities for people to get meaningful minutes. It’s been able to keep our younger players out of a draft, like Anthony Manning, Nick Besler and Andy Thoma, give them a considerable amount of minutes and opportunities to play which wouldn’t have happened in previous years with just the reserve team. It’s progress. Not as fast as we would like. We’re not where we want to be but it’s a step in the right direction.”
On what he liked from the team in the second half…
“We wanted to see them push the game. We wanted to have a strong start, have them play with commitment and with confidence. We wanted to press the ball and pass the ball. We’re trying to play Timbers soccer. We felt like in the second-half we were able to win the ball back much higher. We had some opportunities coming off of passing sequences and clever moments. Those were all positives in the second-half but at that point its 3-0 when the game is essentially over so it’s too late.”
On playing at Providence Park in front of the fans…
“The Timbers Army has been fantastic. They stayed with us all the way to the end. They still applauded the efforts of the guys at the end of the match. It’s so much for the support that this organization has. It was fantastic. One of the things we said going into the game to our guys was this has been the ambition of everybody, to be in a first team locker room and play in a stadium like this and this is your chance. Can you earn it? Can you earn that right to do it again?
T2 midfielder Blair Gavin
On the second half performance…
“We’re all pretty disappointed in the first half in how we came out. We gave up weak goals. Nice shots by them but clearances just weren’t good enough. We wanted to end things the right way. Get after them a little bit, press higher up the field, not let them dictate the flow and I think we did that for spells. Obviously, it’s not good enough especially at our home pitch to lose 3-0. Once again it’s another learning experience for us and for us to grow as a team and as individuals because this can’t happen.”
On playing at Merlo Field and Providence Park this season…
“I think for myself personally I’m a little more comfortable at [Merlo Field] since we’ve been playing there all season just in pregame routines and understanding when to leave and there are a lot of things that go into it. Obviously, playing at this park is a special place and it’s all we aspire to do. Like I said, it’s difficult getting in the routine but at the same time we all aspire to be here. The Timbers Army was great again tonight. Great crowd and very impressive in how much this fan base loves us, T2 and Timbers first team so kudos to them.”
On looking forward to the next match against LA Galaxy II…
“[We’re] just [looking] to build on our second half and continue to push the game and find some goals. We have to get a good feeling especially at the end of the year. I think our fans deserve it and the team deserves it with all the hard work we put in. Now it’s time to go on the road and show what we’re about.”
