PORTLAND, Ore. – Facing their Cascadia rival in back-to-back matches, T2 return to the Rose City to face fellow USL expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Merlo Field in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, July 19; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Sunday’s match will cap a doubleheader at Merlo Field as the Timbers U-23s square off against Seattle Sounders FC U23 in a PDL Northwest Division playoff match at 3 p.m. (Pacific). One ticket will be valid for both matches.
T2 (6-9-2, 20pts) enter Sunday’s match following a hard-fought, 2-1 loss against Vancouver on July 10 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium, where T2 conceded two goals in the second half. Portland will look to capitalize on their winning record (4-2-0) at Merlo Field this season in the rematch. In their last home match, T2 earned a 3-1 win over Arizona United SC at Merlo Field on July 2. Portland has registered 11 goals in seven home games in their inaugural season. Forward Kharlton Belmar leads Portland with eight goals through 17 matches and ranks tied for fifth in goals among all USL players. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson ranks tied for fifth overall in saves with 49 through 13 games played.
Portland faces off against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (6-8-5, 23pts) for the first time at Merlo Field and the third of four regular-season meetings between the two clubs this season. Whitecaps FC 2 will travel to Portland for the final matchup of the regular season on Aug. 16.
Vancouver enters Sunday’s match after a 2-2 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks on July 15 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Vancouver is coming off an unbeaten, three-game home stint but has struggled on the road, posting a record of 1-7-1 in their inaugural season. Whitecaps FC 2 rank second in saves (82) among all USL teams and is led by forward Caleb Clarke, who has registered six goals and two assists in 17 games played this season.
Tickets for Sunday’s T2 match are available online by clicking here. Additionally, Sunday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Following Sunday’s match, T2 remain home to play host to English Premier League club Newcastle United in an international exhibition on Tuesday, July 21, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
