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This Sunday, Sacramento Republic FC continue their two-game road trip of the Pacific Northwest. Next stop, Merlo Field at the University of Portland to take on the winless Portland Timbers 2. Last season, the Republic took two out of three matches against a T2 team that finished in eighth place in the Western Conference.
Let's take a look back at the history between the Republic and Portland Timbers 2.
April 2, 2015
The Republic faced their neighbors to the north for the first time in Portland in a come from behind victory for the Timbers 2. After a scoreless first half the Republic went up 1-0 in the 61st minute off Cameron Iwasa's first professional goal.
The Timbers 2 would score two unanswered goals, one in the 62nd minute and a dagger to end the game in the 87th minute from former Republic loan player Steven Evans.
"It felt good to get the first one out of the way and see the ball go in the net," said forward Cameron Iwasa after the match. "Overall the result was definitely disappointing especially giving up the lead and then giving up the late winner as well. We had our chances and could have put the game away but didn't take advantage of them."
April 18, 2015
Just over two weeks later the Republic and Timbers 2 were back at it, but with a far different result. Former Republic loan goalkeeper Jake Gleeson did not have a good day for Timbers 2. Former midfielder Rodrigo Lopez would score in the 13th minute off a deflection that would skip over Gleeson's extended hands.
At the 37th minute mark the Republic would strike again. Former defender Mickey Daly blasted a header into the net off a Lopez free kick to put the Republic up 2-0. The Republic would score once again in the 87th minute. Former midfielder Zev Taublieb notched his first professional goal past a diving Gleeson, who looked exhausted after the match, for a 3-0 Republic win.
September 12, 2015
Possibly the Republic's most dominating match of the 2015 season came late in the year at Providence Park in Portland. The Republic would once again embarrass their former championship goalkeeper Jake Gleeson with a second consecutive 3-0 shutout.
The match was over in the first half, with all three goals coming before the first 45 minutes went by. Rodrigo Lopez started the scoring off with a bending shot from the top of the penalty box in the 13th minute. Former forward Justin Braun then added a brace, scoring first in the 33rd minute with a header from a Danny Barrera cross, and again in the 35th minute after a steal and some fancy footwork to find the back of the net. Braun would almost score a hat trick for the Republic, but a flailing hand from Gleeson managed to deflect the ball away from the net.
Please share with us your memories about the history between Sacramento Republic and Portland Timbers 2 in the comments below.