T2 and the Portland Pilots met Sunday night on a soggy Merlo Field pitch for the new USL side's only public preseason appearance in Portland, a 4-1 victory to T2.
With heavy rain and hail moving through the area during pre-match warm ups, which only died down at the match began, the teams spent the first several minutes feeling each other out and adjusting to the soggy conditions. As the game opened up, so did T2's attack, especially on the right side, as the connection between Andy Thoma, Rundell Winchester, and Kharlton Belmar finally found the back of the net in the 17th minute.
T2 would continue to press, and eventually found the back of the net again in the 34th minute as Fatawu Safiu hit a rocket from 30 yards out to make it 2-nil.
Just five minutes later, T2 found the back on the net once again, as former Pilot Steven Evans found himself with an open net after Belmar burst past onrushing Pilots goalkeeper Adam Prevost and sent the ball over to Evans for an easy goal in his return to Merlo Field, giving T2 a 3-nil lead that they would take into the break.
The second half featured more even play, as the Pilots made adjustments at the half and made a goalkeeper change, bringing in Paul Christensen for Prevost, and his vocal leadership was noticeable in both volume and organization, as T2 found themselves with less possession and fewer chances in the final third.
Substitute Erik Edwardson proved to be the catalyst the Pilots needed, scoring their lone goal off a header in the 60th minute off a cross from Eddie Sanchez. After giving up the goal, T2 pressed again and made an attacking substitution, bringing on forward Santiago Biglieri for Evans, who have a impressive chance blocked by a Pilots defender.
T2 would find the back of the net once again in the 73rd minute, as Winchester and Christensen collided off a cross from Belmar, but the ball was still able to find the back of net, giving T2 a 4-1 victory, with Winchester credited with the goal.
T2 Head Coach Jay Vidovich
T2 Assistant Coach Andrew Gregor