Asprilla’s late goal gives T2 win over Monarchs

May 26, 2018; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers 2 vs. Real Monarchs SLC at Providence Park. Photo: Sam Ortega-Portland Timbers 2

Dairon Asprilla’s late goal earns 1-0 victory, Saturday, for Portland Timbers 2 (7-3-2, 23pts) over Real Monarchs SLC (8-2-1, 25pts). The win is the third in a row for T2, who are now unbeaten in their last five matches.

Opportunity came in abundance for T2, but Real Monarchs goalkeeper Jake Leeker came up time and time again, before getting beat on the winning goal.

The first chance for Portland came in the 25^th minute, Asprilla beat a defender in a wide position and hit a cross from just inside the 18-yard-box. Forward Foster Langsdorf headed the ball on frame, but Leeker was there to make a save at point-blank range.

Asprilla continued to trouble the Monarchs defense, earning a penalty kick nine minutes later. Langsdorf played Asprilla in one-on-one with the keeper. The Colombian winger flicked the ball over the keeper, before being taken out in an attempted save. Asprilla took the penalty kick, but Leeker pushed the shot away and beat Asprilla in the scramble to rebound.

T2 would earn another penalty kick after winger Marvin Loria turned a defender in the 18-yard-box and was subsequently pulled down, 20 minutes into the second half. Midfielder Renzo Zambrano took the penalty kick but could only find the crossbar.

In the 77^th minute, Portland would break the stalemate. Midfielder Eryk Williamson intercepted a lazy square pass between the center backs and was in on goal, but Leeker came up big with a left-footed save. However, T2 maintained possession. Zambrano hit a driven through ball, over which Williamson dummied, that found an unmarked Asprilla. Asprilla, one-on-one again with Leeker, nutmegged the keeper, scoring the winning goal.

Real Monarchs would throw numbers forward in search of an equalizer, though T2 stayed compact and organized, earning their United Soccer League leading seventh clean sheet of the season.

Saturday’s match saw forwards Darixon Vuelto and Jeremy Ebobisse return from injury.

T2 next play San Antonio FC on the road Saturday, June 2.