PORTLAND, Ore. – After a 3-1 win against Arizona United SC on July 2,T2 will travel to face fellow USL expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
T2 (6-8-2, 20pts) enter Friday’s match with a 2-2-0 record over their last four games, following a decisive 3-1 win over Arizona United SC on July 2 at Merlo Field. Portland recieved goals fromforward Kharlton Belmar and midfielders Fatawu Safiu and Seth Casiple as T2 claimed their fourth win in six home matches at Merlo Field (4-2-0). Belmar leads Portland with eight goals through 16 matches and ranks tied for fifth in goals among all USL players. The Virginia Beach, Va., native also ranks seventh overall in points (20). Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson ranks fifth overall in saves with 49 through 13 games played.
Portland ranks eighth overall in the Western Conference with Vancouver (5-8-4, 19pts) sitting just one point behind in ninth. T2 has played the majority of their matches on the road, playing nine of their 16 USL matches away from home so far this season. Friday’s match marks the second of four meetings between the two clubs this season with T2 falling 3-2 against Vancouver in a hard-fought match on June 21 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium in the first meeting. Whitecaps FC 2 will make the trip to Portland on July 19 and Aug. 16.
Vancouver enters Friday’s match after posting a 3-1 win at home over Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 4 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Midfielder Victor Blasco registered a dramatic brace with goals in the 89th and 90th minutes to propel Vancouver over S2 for the first time in three meetings. Vancouver is 4-1-3 overall at home and is led by forward Caleb Clarke who has registered six goals and two assists in 17 games this season.
Friday’s road match will be carried on a live, high-definition web stream on www.timbers2.com.
Following Friday’s match, T2 return home to square off against Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, July 19, at Merlo Field in Portland, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
