PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their second home match of the 2019 USL Championship season, T2 recorded a 1-0 win over Sacramento Republic FC at Merlo Field on Saturday evening. Modou Jadama scored his second goal of the season, the game-winner, converting from the penalty spot in the first half to help T2 secure a second consecutive victory and their first shutout of the season.
Strong Starts
With the win, T2 improved to 4-1-1 in their first six games in 2019, establishing the club’s best start over the first six games of a season. Additionally, T2 has won each of their first two home games this season.
Against Sacramento Republic FC
Saturday’s match marked the 10th meeting all-time between Portland and Sacramento. T2 earned their fifth win in the all-time series, improving to 4-2-0 all-time at home against Sacramento, dating back to April 2, 2015. It marked the second time Jadama has tallied a goal against Sacramento, as he scored in a 2-0 win on May 2, 2018.
Key Plays
Holding a spell of possession just outside Sacramento’s box, Eryk Williamson received a pass from Ryan Sierakowski near the edge of the box and fired a shot that was headed for goal, but a Sacramento defender blocked the attempt in the 22nd minute.
In the 25th minute, Brayan Hurtado worked his way down the left side of the field and, dribbling into the box, he sent a low, hard shot toward the right corner that was saved by Sacramento goalkeeper Josh Cohen.
T2 were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute when Sacramento’s Shannon Gomez was whistled for a handball in the box. Jadama stepped to the spot and converted, tallying his second goal of the season to give T2 a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.
In the 41st minute, Sam Werner dribbled down the left side of the box for Sacramento and delivered a shot from close range near the left post, forcing a save by T2 goalkeeper Jake Leeker.
Sacramento was reduced to just nine men in the second half after Villyan Bijev was awarded a second yellow card in the 63rd minute and Charalampos Chantzopoulos was shown a second yellow in second-half stoppage time.
T2 came close to doubling their lead in the 68th minute as Hurtado raced down the left wing and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that went just wide of the right post.
Williamson lined up a free kick just outside the box in the 80th minute after he was pulled down by Chantzopoulos on the break, and he sent a bending kick inches wide of the left post.
Next Game
Next up, T2 play host to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Merlo Field on Saturday, April 20, beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets available at Timbers2.com.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
Overall thoughts on the game ...
“Good result; we’ve been searching for that first clean sheet, and to finally get it was a positive. Maybe we were a little fortunate with the sending off, and the second one, but overall I thought it was a really good performance from our guys, putting ourselves in a position to win.”
On importance of winning first of back-to-back home games...
“It’s good. It has been a real focus of ours to be tough at home, to try and take care of these home games when we have them. This gives us confidence moving into the next one, and hopefully we can take care of business there as well.”
On his team’s ability to shut down Sacramento...
“Sacramento is a very good team; they’re very well-coached. They gave us problems, even when they went down a man, even towards the end of the game down two men they gave us problems. I think that’s the lesson for us, the learning moment of how to take care of the game up a man, up a goal.”
T2 (4-1-1, 13pts) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (3-2-1, 10pts)
April 13, 2019 – Merlo Field (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 1 0 1
Sacramento Rep. FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
POR: Jadama (penalty kick), 29
Misconduct Summary
SAC: Bijev (caution), 57
SAC: Bijev (caution, ejection), 63
SAC: Chantzopoulos (caution), 78
SAC: Saari (caution), 84
POR: Sierakowski (caution), 86
SAC: Chantzopoulos (caution, ejection), 90+1
Lineups
POR: GK Leeker, D Hanson (Smith, 66), D Diz Pe, D Jadama ©, D Farfan, M Sierakowski, M Wharton, M Williamson, M Hurtado (Ojeda, 76), F Calixtro (Ornstil, 90+1), F Langsdorf
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lyon, M Anguiano, D Elliott, M Scardina
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Sierakowski, Williamson, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Jadama, 1); FOULS: 13 (Langsdorf, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
SAC: GK Cohen, D Taintor, D McCrary (Chantzopoulos, 69) , D Gomez, D Blackwood, D Keinan, M Skundrich (Bijev, 46), M Villarreal, M Saari, F Werner (Bonomo, 81), F Iwasa
Substitutes Not Used: GK Diaz, D Mahoney, D Alemán, F Hord
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Iwasa, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Two players tied, 1) FOULS: 20 (Saari, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 0
Referee: Mike Hohnholz
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Skinker, Joshua Haimes
4th Official: Justin St. Pierre
Attendance: 1,116
Weather: Cloudy, 51 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
