After a long road trip the Portland Timbers 2 head back to the Rose City on Wednesday to take on Rio Grande Valley FC (Photo Credit: Oklahoma City Energy FC)
Portland Timbers 2 versus Rio Grande Valley FC
7 PM PST, ESPN +
Portland Timbers 2 (2-1-2, 7pts) will play their first home match of the season, Wednesday, when they face Rio Grande Valley FC (0-2-2, 0pts) at Merlo Field. T2 started the season with five straight away matches due to construction at Providence Park.
The Toros enter the contest anything but bullish, having lost their previous two matches and winless on the season. Second half goals have adversely determined the result of all their matches this season. RGVFC had a 2-1 lead until the 66th minute of their last match but left with no points after conceding twice to Seattle Sounders 2. A match prior, the score was 0-0 until the 63rd minute when Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC scored twice in seven minutes. RGVFC would get a goal back but no points from the match. Against Sacramento Republic FC, in their second match of the season, the Toros had a 2-0 lead until the 81st minute, again conceding twice and resigning them to a draw. A draw was their fate as well in their season opener when they coughed up their 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute to Saint Louis FC.
Goals may not be coming in bulk for RGVFC, but they are coming from varied sources. All six of their goals have been scored by different players, and four players have provided their team total four assists. Only forward Aldo Quintanilla has both a goal and an assist on the year for the Toros.
T2 will be looking to display their dynamic attack in front of the Timbers Army, after earning a respectable seven points from their taxing five-game road trip to start the season. With two goals on the season and coming off a two-assist performance against OKC Energy FC, forward Augustine Williams will likely lead the line. Williams is far from the only dangerman for Portland and two first team players on loan should complement him in the attack. Indefatigable winger Victor Arboleda has two goals on the year and has menaced fullbacks with his pace all season. Rookie Foster Langsdorf has acclimated to the level of play in the United Soccer League, finding his first professional goal against Energy FC last match.
Forward Darixon Vuelto has yet to feature for T2 because of the lengthy road trip and the visa process. The wait should be over, however, with the 20-year-old Honduran likely to make his debut Wednesday night. Brought in as a future first team player, the pacey Vuelto should be a welcome addition to an already potent T2 attack.
Watch live at Merlo Park Wednesday, 7 p.m. PST, or stream online on ESPN+.
T2
USL
