By ADAM TROXTELL
Portland Timbers 2 is expected to receive a boost for a potentially tricky journey to Arizona on Saturday.
Will Johnson, who is returning from a broken leg, is expected to play a significant part of T2’s road game against Arizona United SC. Timbers head coach Caleb Porter told The Oregonian this week that Johnson will suit up for T2 as part of his road to recovery.
Arizona United suffered its first loss of the season last week against Orange County Blues and sits third in the Western Conference, two points ahead of T2.
The Rochester Rhinos face New York Red Bulls II in their home opener on Sunday as one of four teams in the East yet to lose this season. In contrast, winless FC Montreal hosts another unbeaten in the Richmond Kickers.
Here is a look at this weekend’s USL action:
SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC vs. ORANGE COUNTY BLUES (10:30 p.m., Friday, YouTube)
Two of the hottest teams in the west meet for a Friday night battle as Sacramento Republic hosts Orange County Blues.
The Blues have only played three times this season, but they have won the past two outings with shutouts. After some early struggles, Sacramento is also now racking up the wins. A 3-0 victory against Timbers 2 last weekend made it three in a row for the defending USL champions.
ARIZONA UNITED SC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS 2 (10:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
Arizona United’s quick start to the season has the club as an unexpected early front-runner in the west.
Former Orlando City striker Dennis Chin and Long Tan lead the club with two goals each, helping Arizona United win three games straight before a 3-0 defeat to Orange County Blues last week. The pair will be needed again as Portland Timbers 2 come to town with extra reinforcements.
Will Johnson is expected to line up for the visitors in his quest back to full health. T2 is in need of a boost after suffering its own 3-0 loss to Sacramento Republic last week, taking its winless streak to three games.
ROCHESTER RHINOS vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS II (2:05 p.m., Sunday, YouTube)
After having to watch their team open the season with five road games, Rochester Rhinos fans will still have plenty to cheer about when the squad returns home on Sunday.
The unbeaten Rhinos host New York Red Bulls II, the team against whom they opened the season in a goalless draw back in March. Since then, the Rhinos won three of the next four matches and drew, 1-1, with Louisville City last week.
On the flip side, NYRB II has recorded just one win this season so far, a 4-1 smashing of Toronto FC II.
REAL MONARCHS SLC vs. LA GALAXY II (10 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
After finally recording their first win last weekend, LA Galaxy II battles another team that has struggled to put a win on the board in Real Monarchs.
A 5-2 loss to Colorado Springs has the Monarchs in last place in the Western Conference, but just two points behind Los Dos. The teams played out a goalless draw to open their schedules in March.
Since then, only a 1-1 draw against Timbers 2 has given the Monarchs anything more than defeat. Raul Mendiola stepped up to help Los Dos to a 2-1 win against Austin Aztex last Sunday after the club had lost three of its first four matches.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 2 vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS 2 (6 p.m., Sunday, YouTube)
Seattle Sounders FC 2 goes from a torrid trip to Oklahoma last week to a more familiar journey north of the border to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
Three straight wins took Sounders 2 atop the Western Conference, but narrow losses to both Tulsa Roughnecks and Oklahoma City Energy FC now has the club in second. Darwin Jones opened the scoring against Energy FC, taking his total for the season to four goals.
Jones enjoyed himself last time against Whitecaps 2, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 triumph. The Canadians rebounded from that with a 3-0 win against Austin Aztex, but have since lost two games and drawn against Toronto FC II.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE vs. HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS (7:30 p.m., Friday, YouTube)
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS vs. TORONTO FC II (7 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
LOUISVILLE CITY FC vs. TULSA ROUGHNECKS FC (7:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
OKC ENERGY FC vs. SAINT LOUIS FC (8 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
AUSTIN AZTEX vs. COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS (9 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
WILMINGTON HAMMERHEADS vs. CHARLESTON BATTERY (3 p.m., Sunday, YouTube)