PORTLAND, Ore. – After conceding twice in the second half, T2 were unable to overcome a one-goal deficit, falling 2-1 to Reno 1868 FC at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Brayan Hurtado tallied his fourth goal of the season and Carlos Anguiano registered his third assist of the campaign as T2’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end.
Run of form
With the result, T2’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end after recording three wins and three draws, dating back to May 12. The loss was the first for T2 since falling to Rio Grande Valley on April 30.
T2 firsts
Timbers Academy product Nicholas Scardina made his T2 debut, coming into the game as substitute in the 87th minute.
Key plays
Hurtado created the first opportunity for T2 four minutes into the match. After Ryan Sierakowski laid a ball at the edge of the box, Hurtado shot a left-footed effort from distance, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar. Hurtado came close once again in the 11th minute with a left-footed curling shot from the right side of the penalty area, forcing JT Marcinkowski into a strong save.
Hurtado scored for Portland on his next attempt. After Anguiano filtered a through ball into the penalty area behind Reno’s defensive line in the 14th minute, Hurtado calmly picked it up and found the bottom left corner of the goal with a left-footed shot, securing his fourth goal of the season.
Portland nearly double its lead in the 20th minute with an overlapping run inside Reno’s penalty area. After Nathan Smith received a precise pass from Sierakowski, he cut the ball back to Gio Calixtro, but his shot was saved by Marcinkowski at the bottom left corner.
Jake Leeker made a key stop in the 37th minute, deflecting a free-kick attempt from the edge of the box by Seth Casiple that found its way around the wall. Raul Mendiola recorded one last chance for Reno 1860 FC in added time, but his left-footed shot from the left side of the box was controlled by Leeker.
Reno 1868 FC leveled the game in the 60th minute, after Daniel Musovski connected a looping header from the center of the box that Leeker was unable to collect. Two minutes later, Reno double its lead after Casiple curled a free kick around T2’s wall from right outside the box to the top right corner of the goal in the 62nd minute.
Pushing for the equalizer, T2 created another chance in the 65th minute, after Cristian Ojeda’s shot off a back pass inside the box from Smith went wide of the left post. Ojeda had one more attempt in the 84th minute after he hit a half-volley shot at the top of the box, but his attempt went wide of the post.
T2 created one more chance to equalize the match in stoppage time, after Smith fired a powerful right-footed shot from the left side of the box off a set piece combination, but his attempt was saved by Marcinkowski.
Next game
Facing a quick turnaround, T2 travel to face Phoenix Rising FC at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on Saturday, June 29. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
General thoughts on tonight’s match...
"I think the result is disappointing. We started quite well in the second half and then to give up a couple goals in quick succession was difficult, but we still created a number of very good chances. So I think we're a little unfortunate in that sense. But overall, it's disappointing."
On the team's effort to find the equalizer in the second half...
"I think the effort was great. We kept pushing, we knew in the first half that we've been a little bit too deep and we came out in the second half pushing higher up the field. We had more possession in their half, we had more attacking actions and created some good chances in front of goal that on another day might fall for us."
On the quick turnaround to playing Phoenix Rising FC this weekend...
"It’s great that we get to have an opportunity so soon. The challenge for us is going to be making sure everyone's healthy. But we're going to play against a very good team in a very difficult environment and we want to be tested. So to test ourselves against what is currently the best team in the conference is going to be a great challenge and we welcome that challenge."
T2 (7-3-6, 27pts) vs. Reno 1868 FC (7-4-5, 26pts)
Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 1 0 1
Reno 1868 FC 0 2 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Hurtado (Anguiano), 14
RNO: Musovski (Casiple), 60
RNO: Casiple, 62
Misconduct Summary
RNO: Seymore (caution), 49
POR: Miller (caution), 50
RNO: Carroll (caution), 50
RNO: Musovski (caution), 67
RNO: Rivas (caution), 87
Lineups:
POR: GK Leeker, D Ornstil (Scardina, 87), D Diz Pe, D Miller, D Smith, M Anguiano, M Wharton ©, M Hurtado, M Ojeda, M Sierakowski, F Calixtro (Kobayashi, 63)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lyon, D Elliot, D Rapaport
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Hurtado, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Hurtado, 3); FOULS: 11 (Calixtro, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7
RNO: GK Marcinkowski, D Carroll ©, D Richards, D Galindo, D Lacroix, M Casiple, M Seymore (Gleadle, 56), M Mendiola, M Rivas, F Cowell (Musovski, 45), F Hertzog (Mfeka, 76)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lewis, D Janjigian, D Klimenta, Apodaca
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Musovski, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Musovski, 4); FOULS: 10 (Rivas, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 6
Referee: Dejan Susak
Assistant Referees: Andrew Marihart, Ryan Jung
4th Official: Justin St. Pierre
Attendance: 1,922
Weather: Showers, 59 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
