PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing the second game of a three-match homestand, T2 defeated Swope Park Rangers 2-1 at Merlo Field on Saturday night. Forward Foster Langsdorf registered his team-leading eighth goal of the season, while midfielder Marvin Loría tallied a goal and an assist. Additionally, midfielder Eryk Williamson notched his second assist of 2018.
T2 vs. Swope Park Rangers at home
With the win, T2 improved to 2-1-0 against Swope Park Rangers at home. Portland has outscored its opponents 9-4 in the first half of games at home. Additionally, seven of Langsdorf’s eight goals this season have been scored in Portland.
Key plays
Following an in-swinging corner kick from midfielder Jack Barmby into the penalty area, Langsdorf’s header at the back post was cleared off the line by a Swope Park defender in the ninth minute. Seven minutes later, Williamson played in Langsdorf behind the Swope Park backline, but his shot from the right edge of the penalty area hit the side netting in the 16th minute.
T2 took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute following a Swope Park turnover in its own half. After Loría picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, his pass split the Rangers’ center backs, allowing Langsdorf to slot his finish from the center of the penalty area past onrushing goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas at his near post. Loría finished the match with a game-high four chances created.
Continuing on the attack, long-range efforts from midfielder Renzo Zambrano in the 28th and Langsdorf in the 31st minute were both fired over the crossbar.
Portland took a 2-0 lead just before halftime after Williamson slid a pass down the right edge of the penalty area into the path of Loría, whose right-footed shot from a tight angle beat Zendejas at his near post in the in the second minute of first-half stoppage-time.
Swope Park cut into Portland’s lead after forward Wilson Harris’s header found the top right corner of the net in the 59th minute.
Cutting in from the left wing, Barmby’s cross into the box found Langsdorf, whose header flashed over the crossbar in the 72nd minute. One minute later, Barmby whipped in a cross from the left flank to the back post, finding Harold Hanson, who nodded his header past the post in the 73rd minute.
In the 74th minute, Loría evaded a Swope Park defender’s challenge on the right edge of the penalty area, took a touch and curled a left-footed shot toward the far corner of the net that Zendejas pushed aside. Seconds later, Langsdorf’s header forced Zendejas into a strong save at his near post.
Just before the final whistle, Loría played a pass to second-half substitute Jeremy Ebobisse, whose long-range shot missed the frame in the 95th minute.
Next Game
Next up, T2 close out a three-match homestand when they play host to Las Vegas Lights FC at Providence Park on Sunday, July 22. Beginning at 2 p.m. (Pacific), the match against Las Vegas will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles
On his thoughts after the club’s 2-1 win…
“It was obviously an important three points for us. We’ve been on a run of poor results and I thought the guys played really well in the first half, to get ourselves in a position to win the game and then did what they had to do to see the game out. It was a very important three points.”
On the performances from the group tonight…
“A lot of the guys did well. I think Foster [Langsdorf] would be disappointed that he didn’t score more goals. He put himself in some good positions to score and like I said, he had a lot of chances. He’s a dangerous player; he can create for himself and for other people.”
On what the team can take away from tonight heading into next weekend’s match against Las Vegas Lights FC…
“There are a lot of positives, especially from the first 45 minutes. The way the guys worked for each other, being very calm and comfortable on the ball and being decisive in the moments when they went forward, and they were composed in their deep defending. There are some things that we need to clean up that we saw in the second half, but it’s good that we’ve got a full week so we can work on those things and hopefully build on this result.”
T2 (9-8-2, 29pts) vs. Swope Park Rangers (9-6-4, 31pts)
July 14, 2018 – Merlo Field (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 2 0 2
Swope Park Rangers 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Langsdorf (Loría), 23
POR: Loría (Williamson), 45+2
SPR: Harris (Storm), 59
Misconduct Summary
POR: Williamson (Caution), 60
SPR: Silva (Caution), 66
Lineups:
POR: GK McIntosh, D Mulligan (Batista, 86), D Jadama ©, D Miller, D Smith, M Zambrano, M Lewis, M Loría, M Williamson (Hanson, 68), M Barmby, F Langsdorf (Ebobisse, 78)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Mangels, D Phillips, M Anguiano, F Williams
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Langsdorf, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Langsdorf, 3); FOULS: 9 (Jadama, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 3
SPR: GK Zendejas, D Storm (Benitez, 87), D Barnathan, D Lewis, D Maher, M Silva, M Blackwood, M Hernandez, M Minter (Cruz, 51), M Barry, F Harris (Rebellon, 75)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Herrera, D Rad, M Karani, M Little
TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Fernandez, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 12 (Storm, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3
Referee: Robi Hullner
Assistant Referees: Chad Stewart, Isaiah Vlad
4th Official: Miles Crumley
Attendance: 1,034
Weather: Clear, 86 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
