SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Forward Kharlton Belmar netted two goals in the first half to help lead T2 to a 2-0 victory over Arizona United SC on Saturday night in front of 6,108 fans at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz. Saturday’s shutout win over Arizona United SC marks the first road win for T2 this season.
With the win, T2 (3-2-1, 10pts) concluded their four-match road trip on a strong note and moved in second-place overall in the Western Conference standings. Belmar, who registered his second brace of the season and is tied for the league-lead with five goals in six games, opened the scoring from close range after receiving a low cross from forward Rundell Winchester and beat Arizona United SC goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski with a one-touch finish in the 19th minute. Belmar completed his brace with a curling strike from distance in the 44th minute. Outpacing Arizona defenders, Belmar delivered an accurate strike from outside the left side of the box that beat Woszczynski inside the top-right corner of the goal.
T2 finished the match with a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal as Portland stymied the Arizona United SC attack to earn its first shutout of the USL season.
Arizona United SC (3-2-0, 9pts), playing their 2015 USL home opener on Saturday, were held without a goal for the second straight match following a 3-0 road loss against Orange County Blues FC on April 18.
Timbers midfielder Will Johnson, playing on loan with T2 for Saturday’s match, started and logged 63 minutes. Johnson recorded two shots during the match, both on goal. Forward Santiago Biglieri also made his T2 debut on Saturday, entering the match as a substitute in the 85th minute.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 return home to face Orange County Blues FC at Providence Park on Sunday, May 3; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific). The game is one of two T2 games to be played at Providence Park this season.
Prorated T2 season tickets, starting at $8 per game, remain available for purchase by contacting a T2 ticket representative at (503) 553-5555 or by email at ticketsales@timbers.com. Additionally, group opportunities for the 2015 T2 season are available by contacting the T2 ticket department, and single-game tickets for T2 home games are available by clicking here.
T2 (3-2-1, 10pts) at Arizona United SC (3-2-0, 9pts)
April 25, 2015 – Scottsdale Stadium (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Arizona United SC 0 0 0
T2 2 0 2
Scoring Summary
POR: Belmar (Winchester), 19
POR: Belmar, 44
Misconduct Summary
POR: Clarke (Caution), 14
AZ: Top (Caution), 24
POR: Besler (Caution), 71
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Gleeson, D Peay, D Clarke, D Manning, D Thoma, M Besler, M Johnson © (Payne, 63), M Fatawu (Gavin, 90), F Winchester, F Belmar, F Tshuma (Biglieri, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Luthy, D Delbridge, M Richards
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
AZ: GK Woszczynski, D Rosales, D Valentino, D Ruthven, D Morrison, M Cuevas, M Dillon, M Stisser (Shinsky, 80), M Top (Derschang, 77), F Chin, F Tan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Turner, D Grousis, M Antunez, M Blanco, M Malki
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referees: Matthew Stewart, Brandon Marshall
4th Official: Matthew Sternheim
Attendance: 6,108
Weather: Cloudy, 70 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
