Friday evening sees the Portland Timbers 2 play the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a match that could push the Switchbacks ever closer to USL Western Conference table-toppers Los Angeles Galaxy II. The Switchbacks, having played three fewer games than their rivals from Los Angeles, trail the Galaxy II by just four points and will be looking to close that gap to one with a win against an improving Timbers 2 team.
Narrowly missing out on a playoff place in 2015, the Portland Timbers 2 have endured an inconsistent start to the current campaign. After losing their first three matches of 2016, the Timbers 2 fought their way to a priceless 1-0 victory over Sacramento Republic FC on April 17th at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field. Two-goal wins against the Tulsa Roughnecks and Real Monarchs sandwiched T2’s only draw of the season – a 1-1 result in Peoria, Arizona against Arizona United.
Both 2015 meetings between the Switchbacks and Timbers 2 were won by the team from Colorado Springs. A comprehensive 3-1 victory for the Switchbacks at Switchbacks Stadium on June 10th preceded a 1-0 Switchbacks victory in Portland on September 5th. “We always do well versus Portland,” said Switchbacks right back Jordan Burt. “We’re looking to keep that streak going on Friday.”
A 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy II started the Switchbacks’ most recent road trip, before a dominant display against the Orange Country Blues FC saw the Switchbacks run away as 3-0 winners. Goals from Saeed Robinson, Luke Vercollone, and Marty Maybin made sure of the three points and earned Robinson a place on the USL Team of the Week bench.
“Coming off the win against OC we need to gather momentum and take a charge up the league,” said striker Marty Maybin. “It’s great to be back training at home and looking forward to the game at our stadium.”
Of key focus for the Switchbacks will be the attacking line of the Portland Timbers 2. Led by striker Kharlton Belmar, the Timbers 2 posses a physical and dynamic forward force. Employed both off the bench and as a starter, striker Ben Polk found the net in Portland’s 3-1 win over the Real Monarchs. Bulgarian midfielder Villyan Bijev provided two assists against the Monarchs, but has so far seen limited minutes with the Timbers 2 in 2016.
Highly rated, always with an eye towards goal, and still only 19, Belgian midfielder Dylan Damraoui has represented his national team at numerous youth levels. Playing in six games so far this season for the Timbers 2, Damraoui is a player with a wealth of talent that is surely being groomed to one day represent MLS’s Timbers full-time. The Timbers won their first MLS Cup in 2015 after a magical playoff run saw them eventually defeat the Columbus Crew at Columbus’ raucous Mapfre Stadium.
“Speed doesn’t take a day off, so we need to be ready physically,” said Switchbacks defender Josh Phillips when asked about the offensive challenge posed by T2. “We know they’ll be athletic and they play to that strength. We need to press them and force them into long balls so that Christian [Ibeagha] and I can deal with them.”
“Portland has a very athletic top three, and we have to deal with that physical test,” said Jordan Burt. “We have to play good shape-wise, focus on our game, press them high, and force them into making mistakes.”
Marty Maybin, while no doubt hoping for a recall to the starting XI for the visit of the Timbers 2, echoed the thoughts of his teammates when asked about Portland’s strengths. “They’re similar to us,” said the Belfast native. “They’re very dynamic up top and they’ll create a lot of problems for us if we’re not disciplined as a team.”
“Portland will be tough,” insisted Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone. “They’re talented up front, but if we can shut them down we’ll be in good shape on Friday.”
Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh, although more than aware of the danger posed by Portland’s strikers, put the charge on his team to control the Timbers 2. “They [Portland] have speed up top in all three positions and they’re playing with confidence after beating Salt Lake,” said Trittschuh. “We need to play our game, focus on what we can do better, and take the momentum coming out of Los Angeles. We had a good week of being on the same page in L.A. and really learning how we can play and keep playing together. Taking that into OC and getting the win was huge – now we have to keep that for Portland.”
Scoring his first goal of the season against the Orange County Blues was a vital step in 2016 for Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone, who has led his team for all six of their matches this season. “It was great to score,” said Vercollone. “I needed it and wanted it and it really helps my confidence going forward.”
Vercollone’s goal in Orange County was assisted by Mike Seth who, like his captain, has been an ever-present in the Switchbacks’ lineup this season. “We need to come out against Portland and bring the same intensity we had in OC,” said Seth. “As a team we need to press them, have a fast start, and try our best to build a quick lead.”
Friday’s game against the Timbers 2 gives Switchbacks fans the perfect opportunity to showcase their support on a new multimedia platform. The first ever Switchbacks game to be broadcast by ESPN 3 – ESPN’s online streaming service – the match will be this weekend’s featured USL Game of the Week. “The game being on ESPN 3 gives us a little added incentive to show the nation that we’re ready to play at the next level,” said Josh Phillips.
“It’s a big game, and we need to come out fighting,” said Luke Vercollone. “We’re all hoping to get the result in front of a big home crowd.”
“Hopefully we have a good crowd on Friday. If we get a good energy in the stadium that will help us a lot,” insisted Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “I think we’ll come out ready to play. 15 points from 7 games is good right now and we’ve got a full squad and everyone is ready to go.”
Japanese midfielder Shintaro Harada hopes the Switchbacks use the boost of three points against the OC Blues as a catalyst for a victory against the Timbers 2. “We need to keep momentum from the last game going,” said Harada. “Portland is physically and tactically very good. They’re organized and dangerous. We need three points moving forward…three points; that’s it. Just win!”
This season the Switchbacks will twice travel midweek to the Rose City to face Portland Timbers 2 on their home field. A Thursday night matchup on July 7th will be followed less than a month later by an under-the-lights Wednesday faceoff on August 3rd.
Friday evening sees the Portland Timbers 2 play the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a match that could push the Switchbacks ever closer to USL Western Conference table-toppers Los Angeles Galaxy II. The Switchbacks, having played three fewer games than their rivals from Los Angeles, trail the Galaxy II by just four points and will be looking to close that gap to one with a win against an improving Timbers 2 team.
Narrowly missing out on a playoff place in 2015, the Portland Timbers 2 have endured an inconsistent start to the current campaign. After losing their first three matches of 2016, the Timbers 2 fought their way to a priceless 1-0 victory over Sacramento Republic FC on April 17th at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field. Two-goal wins against the Tulsa Roughnecks and Real Monarchs sandwiched T2’s only draw of the season – a 1-1 result in Peoria, Arizona against Arizona United.
Both 2015 meetings between the Switchbacks and Timbers 2 were won by the team from Colorado Springs. A comprehensive 3-1 victory for the Switchbacks at Switchbacks Stadium on June 10th preceded a 1-0 Switchbacks victory in Portland on September 5th. “We always do well versus Portland,” said Switchbacks right back Jordan Burt. “We’re looking to keep that streak going on Friday.”
A 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy II started the Switchbacks’ most recent road trip, before a dominant display against the Orange Country Blues FC saw the Switchbacks run away as 3-0 winners. Goals from Saeed Robinson, Luke Vercollone, and Marty Maybin made sure of the three points and earned Robinson a place on the USL Team of the Week bench.
“Coming off the win against OC we need to gather momentum and take a charge up the league,” said striker Marty Maybin. “It’s great to be back training at home and looking forward to the game at our stadium.”
Of key focus for the Switchbacks will be the attacking line of the Portland Timbers 2. Led by striker Kharlton Belmar, the Timbers 2 posses a physical and dynamic forward force. Employed both off the bench and as a starter, striker Ben Polk found the net in Portland’s 3-1 win over the Real Monarchs. Bulgarian midfielder Villyan Bijev provided two assists against the Monarchs, but has so far seen limited minutes with the Timbers 2 in 2016.
Highly rated, always with an eye towards goal, and still only 19, Belgian midfielder Dylan Damraoui has represented his national team at numerous youth levels. Playing in six games so far this season for the Timbers 2, Damraoui is a player with a wealth of talent that is surely being groomed to one day represent MLS’s Timbers full-time. The Timbers won their first MLS Cup in 2015 after a magical playoff run saw them eventually defeat the Columbus Crew at Columbus’ raucous Mapfre Stadium.
“Speed doesn’t take a day off, so we need to be ready physically,” said Switchbacks defender Josh Phillips when asked about the offensive challenge posed by T2. “We know they’ll be athletic and they play to that strength. We need to press them and force them into long balls so that Christian [Ibeagha] and I can deal with them.”
“Portland has a very athletic top three, and we have to deal with that physical test,” said Jordan Burt. “We have to play good shape-wise, focus on our game, press them high, and force them into making mistakes.”
Marty Maybin, while no doubt hoping for a recall to the starting XI for the visit of the Timbers 2, echoed the thoughts of his teammates when asked about Portland’s strengths. “They’re similar to us,” said the Belfast native. “They’re very dynamic up top and they’ll create a lot of problems for us if we’re not disciplined as a team.”
“Portland will be tough,” insisted Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone. “They’re talented up front, but if we can shut them down we’ll be in good shape on Friday.”
Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh, although more than aware of the danger posed by Portland’s strikers, put the charge on his team to control the Timbers 2. “They [Portland] have speed up top in all three positions and they’re playing with confidence after beating Salt Lake,” said Trittschuh. “We need to play our game, focus on what we can do better, and take the momentum coming out of Los Angeles. We had a good week of being on the same page in L.A. and really learning how we can play and keep playing together. Taking that into OC and getting the win was huge – now we have to keep that for Portland.”
Scoring his first goal of the season against the Orange County Blues was a vital step in 2016 for Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone, who has led his team for all six of their matches this season. “It was great to score,” said Vercollone. “I needed it and wanted it and it really helps my confidence going forward.”
Vercollone’s goal in Orange County was assisted by Mike Seth who, like his captain, has been an ever-present in the Switchbacks’ lineup this season. “We need to come out against Portland and bring the same intensity we had in OC,” said Seth. “As a team we need to press them, have a fast start, and try our best to build a quick lead.”
Friday’s game against the Timbers 2 gives Switchbacks fans the perfect opportunity to showcase their support on a new multimedia platform. The first ever Switchbacks game to be broadcast by ESPN 3 – ESPN’s online streaming service – the match will be this weekend’s featured USL Game of the Week. “The game being on ESPN 3 gives us a little added incentive to show the nation that we’re ready to play at the next level,” said Josh Phillips.
“It’s a big game, and we need to come out fighting,” said Luke Vercollone. “We’re all hoping to get the result in front of a big home crowd.”
“Hopefully we have a good crowd on Friday. If we get a good energy in the stadium that will help us a lot,” insisted Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “I think we’ll come out ready to play. 15 points from 7 games is good right now and we’ve got a full squad and everyone is ready to go.”
Japanese midfielder Shintaro Harada hopes the Switchbacks use the boost of three points against the OC Blues as a catalyst for a victory against the Timbers 2. “We need to keep momentum from the last game going,” said Harada. “Portland is physically and tactically very good. They’re organized and dangerous. We need three points moving forward…three points; that’s it. Just win!”
This season the Switchbacks will twice travel midweek to the Rose City to face Portland Timbers 2 on their home field. A Thursday night matchup on July 7th will be followed less than a month later by an under-the-lights Wednesday faceoff on August 3rd.
