May 2, 2018; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers 2 vs Sacramento Republic FC at Providence Park. Photo: Sam Ortega-Portland Timbers 2
Portland Timbers 2 2-Sacramento Republic FC 0
Portland Timbers 2 (4-3-1, 13pts) dealt Sacramento Republic FC (4-1-3, 15pts) their first loss of the season 2-0, Wednesday, at Providence Park.
With their fourth win of the season, T2 have exceeded in their 2017 win total of three. Portland earned their fourth clean sheet on season, the third for goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh.
Entering the match well rested and looking to rebound from the loss to Reno 1868 FC, T2 attacked from the onset. First team regular Dairon Asprilla, starting at center forward for the United Soccer League side, lead the attack and opened the scoring for T2.
Asprilla’s goal came in the 16th minute after winger Marvin Loria, getting his first start for T2, beat two Sacramento defenders at the edge of the box and crossed from the end line. The ball was cleared by the Sacramento defense, but only as far as T2 left back Lamar Batista, who sent another cross into the box. Republic FC defender Justin Schmidt could only head the ball down to Asprilla, who gave T2 a 1-0 lead with a determined finish.
In the 35th minute, Asprilla attempted to double the Portland lead. Forward Foster Langsdorf knocked the ball away from Republic FC midfielder Jaime Villarreal. Asprilla pounced on the ball and ran at the Sacramento backline, before shooting from the top of the D, forcing goalkeeper Joshua Cohen into a diving save.
T2 would get their second goal three minutes later from a corner. Midfielder Eryk Williamson sent a crisp ball to an unmarked Modou Jadama at the far post. Jadama headed the ball downward and into the back of the net, doubling Portland’s lead.
The second half saw sustained attacking pressure from Republic FC as they searched for a way back into the match.
In the 67th minute, McIntosh was forced into a diving save after a surging Cameron Iwase hit a low driven ball from outside the box. McIntosh would be called upon again in the 82nd minute, when the T2 defense could only clear a ball as far as Sacramento midfielder Vilyan Bijev, who hit a hit shot through traffic that McIntosh gobbled up.
Despite their persistent pressure, a goal was not to be found by Republic FC. Portland’s defense was steadfast, abating the Sacramento attack with timely clearances and interventions. The often-unheralded right back Jimmy Mulligan was pugnacious throughout the match, winning balls and working tirelessly on both sides of the ball, even displaying composed dribbling to alleviate pressure.
Stoppage time nearly brought a third goal for T2. Williamson picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and juked a defender, finding acres of space, before laying the ball off to winger Victor Arboleda. Arboleda’s shot from just outside the six yard box went careening off the far post. The rebound fell to winger Devyn Jambga, who sent his opportunity skimming over the bar.
T2 head to Missouri to play Saint Louis FC on Saturday.
T2
USL
