USL MATCH PREVIEW | Portland Timbers 2 vs. Austin Bold FC | Sept. 29, 2019 - 1 PM PT

T2 play the second match of a four-game homestand when they play host to Austin Bold FC at Providence Park on Sunday, Sept. 29. Beginning at 1 p.m. (Pacific), Sunday’s match against Austin will feature a live stream on ESPN+.

2019 season at a glance
T2 (10-11-8, 38pts) sits in 12th place in the Western Conference standings, and rank sixth in the league in goals scored (56). Portland enters Sunday’s match following a 6-3 win over the Tacoma Defiance on Sept. 10. T2 scored three headed goals in the win against the Defiance. Ryan Sierakowski, Brayan Hurtado and Asprilla each found the back of the net via headed finishes. Sierakowski ranks tied for second on the team with Foster Langsdorf with seven goals, while Hurtado tallied his sixth goal this season. Eryk Williamson scored T2’s second goal from a direct free kick in 2019, his fourth goal of the year, while Dairon Asprilla scored his team-leading nine goals. Additionally, Carlos Anguiano scored his second goal of the campaign.

Playoff Picture 
Following a 6-3 win over the Tacoma Defiance at Providence Park on Sept. 20, Portland (10-11-8, 38pts, +2GD) enter Week 30 action in 12th place in the Western Conference standings, five points behind seventh place Austin Bold FC (12-11-7, 43pts, +2 GD), with a game in hand. Entering the weekend games, just six points separate 12th place (38pts) and fifth place (44pts) in the Western Conference standings. The 2018 season was the first time that T2 qualified for the playoffs in team history.

T2 against Austin Bold FC
In the only matchup between Portland and Austin Bold FC, the two teams played to a 2-2 draw at Bold Stadium on June 8, 2019. Eryk Williamson and Todd Wharton scored in the draw against Austin.

T2 2019 Team Leaders 
Goals: Dairon Asprilla (9)
Assists: Eryk Williamson (7)
Chances Created: Todd Wharton (34)
Shutouts: Aljaz Ivacic, Jake Leeker (1)
Saves: Jake Leeker (44)

Scouting Austin Bold FC 
Austin Bold FC (12-11-7, 43pts) enters Sunday’s match following a 4-1 home win over Las Vegas Lights FC on Sept. 22, which snapped a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) dating back to Sept. 7. In 13 matches on the road in 2019, Austin holds a 2-7-4 record, with its last road in coming in a 1-0 win at Rio Grande Valley FC on June 23. Kléber and André Lima are tied for the team-lead in goals scored (11), while Sean McFarlane ranks first on the team in assists (9) and chances created (9). Notably, Amobi Okugo played two seasons for the Portland Timbers (2017-18).

Austin Bold FC head coach: Marcelo Serrano

Austin Bold FC Team Leaders
Goals: Kléber, André Lima (11)
Assists: Sean McFarlane (9)
Chances Created: Sean McFarlane (44)
Shutouts: Diego Restrepo (81)
Saves: Diego Restrepo (81)