T2

USL Match Preview | Portland Timbers 2 vs. Sacramento Republic | Sept. 12, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing in their regular-season home finale, T2 will square off against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, T2 (10-14-2, 32pts) will play their second regular-season match at Providence Park on Saturday. Portland has registered a 7-6-0 home record during its inaugural season, including wins in two of their last three home matches. In its last match, Portland could not overcome a second-half goal in a 1-0 loss against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Sept. 5 at Merlo Field.

Individually, midfielder Fatawu Safiu has tallied a goal in two of the last three matches for T2, while forward Kharlton Belmar has tallied three goals over the last four matches. Entering the week, Belmar ranks tied for sixth in the league in goals (12) and tied for sixth overall with 27 points (12g, 3a). Fatawu, who ranks fifth in the league with 63 shots, is second on T2 with seven goals this season.

T2 face Sacramento Republic FC (12-8-5, 41pts) for the third time this season on Saturday and the first time at Providence Park. In their last match, T2 conceded twice in the first half of a 3-0 loss against the reigning USL champions on April 18 at Bonney Field in Sacramento, Calif. In their first meeting of the year at Merlo Field, T2 earned a 2-1, come-from-behind victory, tallying the late game-winning goal and overturning a one-goal deficit on April 2.

Republic FC enter Saturday’s match after earning a 2-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Sept. 6 at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. Sacramento comes to Portland riding a four-game unbeaten streak and have posted a 5-4-3 overall road record this season. The side is led by forward Rodrigo Lopez, who ranks tied for third in game-winning-goals (5) and tied for 10th in goals (9) among all USL players, while also tallying five assists in 21 appearances. Goalkeeper Patrick McLain ranks tied for seventh in shutouts (6) and eighth in the league in goals-against average (1.25) through 24 games played.

Tickets for Saturday’s home T2 match against Sacramento Republic FC are available online by clicking here. Additionally, Saturday’s home match will be carried on a live, high-definition web stream on www.timbers2.com.

Following Saturday’s match, T2 travel to face LA Galaxy II in their final regular-season match on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).