Heading into Week 13 of the 2019 USL Championship season, T2 play host to Real Monarchs SLC at Providence Park on Wednesday, May 29; kickoff is at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Providence Park soft-opening matches
With less than a week remaining before the much-anticipated relaunch of Providence Park when the Portland Timbers play host to Los Angeles FC on Saturday, June 1, the team announced that it will host two soft-opening games featuring T2, its USL Championship club.
During the Wednesday’s preview game, only the westside and north end of Providence Park will be open for use as finishing details are completed to the rest of the stadium, which has undergone a privately funded, $85 million transformation for the 2019 season. For the May 29 game, fans will be able to enter the stadium through Gate F (formerly Gate 4) on the northwest plaza. Prior to kickoff, gates will be open to fans beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Last match recap
In a special preview match in advance of the official reopening of the newly transformed Providence Park, T2 battled El Paso Locomotive FC to a 1-1 draw on May 25. Dairon Asprilla logged his team-leading fifth goal in his fourth appearance of the season.
Strong start to 2019
In 11 matches to begin the 2019 season, T2 (5-2-4, 19pts) sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. T2 rank third in the league in goals scored (23). After scoring in a 1-1 draw against El Paso Locomotive on May 25, Dairon Asprilla leads the team with five goals scored, while Modou Jadama ranks second (3). Eryk Williamson, Marvin Loría, Brayan Hurtado, Giovani Calixtro and Ryan Sierakowski have scored two goals each in 2019. Additionally, Williamson ranks first in the USL Championship with seven assists in nine appearances.
T2 against Real Monarchs SLC
Wednesday's match marks the 11th regular-season meeting between the Real Monarchs SLC and T2, with Portland trailing the series 3-4-3. In five matches played in Portland between the two clubs dating back to March 29, 2015, T2 hold a 3-1-1 record against Real Monarchs. In the last meeting between the two clubs, T2 defeated Real Monarchs 1-0 at Providence Park on May 26, 2018, behind Dairon Asprilla's game-winning goal in the 41st minute.
Home form
In five home matches in 2019, T2 have only lost once, posting a 2-1-2 record at home thus far this season. Portland has scored eight of their 24 goals this season in home matches. Additionally, three of Dairon Asprilla’s five goals this season have come in home matches.
T2 2019 Team Leaders
Goals: Dairon Asprilla (5)
Assists: Eryk Williamson (7)
Chances Created: Eryk Williamson (22)
Shutouts: Jake Leeker (1)
Saves: Jake Leeker (29)
Scouting Real Monarchs SLC
Real Monarchs SLC (3-5-3, 12pts) enter Wednesday’s match following a 4-2 loss at home to Phoenix Rising FC on May 25, which extended a four-match winless streak. In road contests in 2019, Real Monarchs are winless (0-3-2). Real Monarch’s 22’s goals conceded this season rank tied for the fifth-most in the USL Championship. Midfielder Maikel Chang leads the team with five goals scored while Douglas Martínez ranks first on the club with three assists. Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper David Ochoa leads the team with 30 saves and two shutouts in seven appearances in 2018.
Real Monarchs head coach: Martín Vásquez
Real Monarchs SLC 2019 Team Leaders
Goals: Maikel Chang (5)
Assists: Douglas Martinez (3)
Chances Created: Maikel Chang (18)
Shutouts: David Ochoa (2)
Saves: David Ochoa (30)
