TUKWILA, Wash. – Playing the final match of a two-game road swing, T2 fell 2-1 to Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Starfire Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
T2 (0-3-0, 0pts) took the lead early in the second half after midfielder Victor Arboleda found Villyan Bijev just outside the top of the box on the counter. Bijev took a touch past his defender and rifled a shot past the outstretched arms of S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller and into the top left corner of the net in the 51st minute.
Sounders FC 2 (1-1-0, 3pts) leveled the score in the 64th minute when S2 substitute Seyi Adekoya slotted past an onrushing T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh from inside the penalty area. Seattle took the lead two minutes later when Sounders FC 2 midfielder Zach Mathers finished his attempt from inside the six-yard box after he was first to a loose ball.
Searching for an equalizer, forward Jeremy Ebobisse was found in space at the top of the box by second-half substitute Jacob Montes. Ebobisse quickly turned and his left-footed strike was parried aside by Miller in the 70th minute for a corner kick. T2 earned a penalty in the 78th minute when Arboleda was brought down inside the box by Miller in the 78th minute. Bijev’s ensuing penalty kick attempt was saved by Miller, as his right-footed shot was palmed away. Continuing in the attack, Arboleda slid in second-half substitute Augustine Williams at the top of the 18-yard box, and William’s left-footed effort flashed just wide of the target in the 90th minute.
In stoppage time, defender Lamar Batista’s headed attempt from Bijev’s corner kick delivery forced Miller into a reaction save, while Williams’ follow-up attempt was blocked by a S2 defender.
Next up, T2 will play host to Orange County SC on Saturday, April 8; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific) at Providence Park.
Sunday’s 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 team’s performance today…
“It’s obviously difficult to play a third game in a week in tough conditions, but I think we thought we did O.K. getting to halftime at 0-0. We came out and did better at the start of the second half. We created the opportunity and [Villyan] Bijev scored a nice goal, and then we got punished. We gave up two goals in about two minutes. At this moment, we’re getting punished for our lack of discipline. It’s part of the process and it’s part of the development. We need to learn from it and get better. After we went down 2-1, we had a penalty kick that we missed.”
On what the team can build on this game for Saturday’s match at home against Orange County SC…
“At times, we created some good opportunities. I think Victor Arboleda came in at halftime and gave us a shot of energy and caused some problems. He gave the group some energy and confidence. A header from Lamar [Batista’s] was saved, Jeremy [Ebobisse] had an opportunity to score and same with Augustine [Williams]. The chances were there, but the goals aren’t going in for us. We have to stick to the plan and continue to create opportunities, and over time they’ll start to go in for us. We have to get better at managing the game so that we don’t put ourselves in situations where we have to chase the game, and we’ve done that in the past two games.”
T2 (0-3-0, 0pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2 (1-1-0, 3pts)
April 2, 2017 – Starfire Stadium (Tukwila, Wash.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 1 1
Sounders FC 2 0 2 2
Scoring Summary
POR: Bijev (Arboleda), 51
SEA: Adekoya (Nana-Sinkam), 64
SEA: Mathers (Wingo), 66
Misconduct Summary
SEA: Saari (Caution), 53
POR: Damraoui (Caution), 60
POR: Batista (Caution), 63
POR: Clarke (Caution), 71
POR: Brett (Caution), 81
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK McIntosh, D Jimenez (Williams, 80), D Batista, D Clarke ©, D Bjornethun, M Damraoui, M Lewis (Montes, 69), M Brett, M Bjiev, M Bodily (Arboleda, 46), F Ebobisse
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton, D Amick, D Hanson, F Cicerone
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Bijev, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Bijev, 2); FOULS: 9 (Clarke, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7
SEA: GK Miller, D Nana-Sinkam, D Rogers, D Grant, D Tolo, M Saari, M Narbon, M Mathers, F Wingo (Hopeau, 75), F Olsen (Adekoya, 62), F Parra (Chenkam, 83)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Meredith, D Hafferty, M Ramos, M Dimitroff
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Mathers, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Mathers, 3); FOULS: 9 (Parra, Tolo, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3
Referee: Chipalo Street
Assistant Referees: Cameron Siler, Connor Hazelwood
4th Official: Robert Gilbert
Attendance: 962
Weather: Cloudy, 51 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
