TUKWILA, Wash. – T2 were unable to overcome an early first-half deficit, falling 2-0 to Seattle Sounders FC on Friday night at Starfire Stadium in Week 7 of the 2017 USL season.
After Sounders FC 2 (4-4-0, 12pts) took the lead in the sixth minute after Irvin Parra scored from the penalty spot, T2 (1-7-0, 3pts) threatened the Seattle defense.
Early on, forward Augustine Williams found space at the top of the box and his right-footed shot was saved by S2 goalkeeper Bryan Meredith in the third minute. In the 17th minute, midfielder Andre Lewis’ shot from the edge of the 18-yard box was struck over the crossbar. Six minutes later, midfielder Tomás Granitto played a ball to forward Russell Cicerone, and his shot from outside the box was saved in the 23rd minute. Shortly after, midfielder Omar Mohamed picked out Williams from the left wing, and his strong header flashed past the near post in the 32nd minute.
Seattle extended its lead to 2-0 after Parra’s clearance from about 35-yards caught T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh off his line and bounced into the back of the net in the 52nd minute.
Outshooting Seattle 13-8 for the match, Portland tried to cut into Seattle’s lead in the second half. Williams’ shot from the right edge of the 18-yard box went wide of the target in the 71st minute. T2 nearly scored in the 86th minute when midfielder Villyan Bijev rifled a shot from outside the box that struck the underside of the crossbar, but the ball did not cross the goal line.
Timbers Academy product Lucas Cini made his T2 and USL debut as a second-half substitute, and almost scored when his headed effort from the center of the box flashed wide of the post in the 89th minute. In stoppage time, Cicerone got on the end of Mohamed’s cross from the right wing, and his header missed the target in the 91st minute. Moments later, defender Harold Hanson attempted a bicycle kick from the edge of the box that forced Meredith into a save in the 93d minute.
Next up, T2 will play host to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday, May 10, as part of Providence Health & Fitness Day; kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (Pacific).
The May 10 match will also be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Andrew Gregor
On his overall thoughts on the match...
“I thought some of our mistakes put us in a tough spot. We showed some fight towards the end of the game and created some dangerous chances, but we were just unlucky to not score towards the end of the game.”
On the team fighting back after falling down 2-0…
“After we gave up the goal in the second half, I think we created some opportunities that we could have done better with. Once we gave up the second goal, it was going to be really difficult. They sat back and made it difficult for us to break them down, but we made a couple changes that impacted the game, which was positive. We made a little run at it towards the end. I thought we were a little bit unluck not to get that goal that hit off the cross bar. Russell Cicerone got into a couple of dangerous areas, but they just didn’t go in for us tonight.”
On what he saw from some of the new faces in the lineup tonight…
“I thought Harold [Hanson] showed what he can do, but then you saw his inexperience in the first half giving up the penalty. We were able to see what he brings to the field as far as his explosiveness and getting to the endline and causing problems. He’s a young player and he’s going to need some time. I thought Omar Mohamed did a good job tonight, especially in the first half. He showed his ability going forward and worked hard defensively. It was a decent shift from. Russell made his first start of the season tonight and he’s a good hard-working player. He had a couple of opportunities tonight. On a different night, he could have scored a hat-trick. The effort was there and those balls will start going in over time for him. It was a short 10-minute stint for Lucas Cini. I think he’s earned the opportunity. I thought he did a good job as far as bringing a little bit of energy. I thought we were unlucky not to get a goal due to an offside call on Bijev’s shot that hit the crossbar, but Cini did a great job to react and follow it up. That’s what Lucas is about. He works hard and he scores goals. It’s just unfortunate the goal was disallowed.”
On going up against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Wednesday at home…
“It’s a difficult game because we’ll have a short turnaround for the game. The results haven’t been going our way. The only way to get out of that is to fight, scratch, dig and do everything you can to get out of it. They’re going to have to work hard and clean up some of the little mistakes and take advantage of some of the opportunities against a team we know. They’re an experienced team with older players. We’ll have to make sure we do a lot of the little things correct.”
T2 (1-7-0, 3pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2 (4-4-0, 12pts)
May 5, 2017 – Starfire Stadium (Tukwila, Wash.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 0 0
Sounders FC 2 1 1 2
Scoring Summary
SEA: Parra (Penalty Kick), 6
SEA: Parra, 52
Misconduct Summary
SEA: Narbon (Caution), 38
SEA: Ele (Caution), 39
SEA: Parra (Caution), 54
POR: Batista (Caution), 64
POR: Damraoui (Caution), 72
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK McIntosh ©, D Hanson, D Clarke (Cini, 83), D Batista, D Farfan, M Granitto (Damraoui, 67) M Lewis, M Cicerone, M Bijev, M Mohamed, F Williams
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton, D Amick, D Bjornethun, D Ornstil
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Cicerone, Williams, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Cicerone, Hanson, 1); FOULS: 14 (Hanson, Williams, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
SA: GK Meredith ©, D Nana-Sinkam, D Ele, D Rogers, D Grant, M Narbon, M Saari, M Olsen (Dimitroff, 75) F Hopeau, F Chenkam (Stevens, 81), F Parra (Gonzalez, 63)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Muse, D Lotenero, M Ramos, M Barton
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Parra, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Parra, 2); FOULS: 14 (Ele, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
Assistant Referees: Cephas Quartson, Christian Clerc
4th Official: Chuck Spaniola
Attendance: 1,146
Weather: Partly cloudy, 57 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
