Three matches in just over a week and three losses in that same time period. Needless to say, it proved to be a tough eight days for the Energy FC squad and supporters. The Greens return to the comforts of home after a stretch that saw them catch seven flights in eight days and travel about 5,000 miles in the process.

Despite the outcomes in the last three matches, it’s clear that progress is being made - especially on defense. After giving up four goals in Phoenix, OKC’s backline were able to hold OC and Fresno to a combined four shots on target. Unfortunately, 75 percent of those found the back of the net. Joe Adjei and Christian Ibeagha formed the central defensive partnership in the last two matches and look to be working well together. Shawn McLaws earned his first start of the season Saturday night as first choice left back Kyle Hyland remained sidelined after the injury sustained in Phoenix. The Edmond native hardly put a foot wrong throughout the 90 minutes.

On the other end of the pitch, the Greens only managed four shots on goal in the past two matches with only two resulting in goals. It’s no secret that Energy FC have struggled in the final third so far this season. Part of that has to do with early-season rust, part of it has to do with the team still gelling, and part of it has to do with not having a true no. 9 at the moment.

It was a similar story last season as Energy FC struggled to score until Jose Angulo arrived from St. Louis. The Colombian striker netted 11 goals in 19 appearances for the Greens in 2017, but a groin strain has kept him out for all of 2018 thus far. The likes of Jon Brown and Alex Dixon have stepped in to fill the role, but the offense has seen limited success with them leading the line. That’s no fault of their own, however, as both players have previously exceeded most when deployed in wider areas.

One of the bright spots in the defeat to Fresno was the performance of Jaime Siaj. The 22-year-old Real Madrid academy product, acquired from Charlotte in the offseason, looked like a man on a mission Saturday night. In his first start for the club, he scored the lone goal for OKC, came close to picking up a brace with a nice strike from distance, and looked confident going forward every time he had the ball. We’re also still unsure on the status of Francis Atuahene’s calf injury. The FC Dallas loanee hasn’t featured since scoring the winner in the season opener against Tulsa. It’ll be interesting to see how the squad lines up Saturday when Portland Timbers 2 comes to town.

T2 have had mixed results so far this season. They lost their opener 2-1 at Seattle, picked up a 1-0 win away to Colorado Springs, and lost this past Saturday 4-2 at Real Monarchs. Before the visit to Taft Stadium on Saturday, Portland makes a stop in Tulsa to take on the Roughnecks on Wednesday night. Tulsa are reeling at the moment, but an additional match for the Timbers can’t do anything but help OKC as the Greens don’t have to travel or worry about a midweek fixture during week four.

Leading the line for Portland is Augustine Williams. Despite scoring in the first two matches of the season, including the winner at Colorado Springs, Williams came off the bench at halftime in the defeat to Real Monarchs.

A familiar face will likely make his return to OKC on Saturday night as Lamar Batista is back with Timbers 2 again this season. The former Oklahoma Football Club and Heritage Hall standout missed the opener through suspension, came on in the final ten minutes to help earn the victory against the Switchbacks, and was an unused substitute on Saturday night. Last season, Batista made 21 appearances for Timbers 2, played the full 90 minutes in his debut with the first team in a 2-1 win against Seattle in the US Open Cup, and was named no. 8 on the USL’s 2017 20 under 20 list.

Portland started against Real in a 4-4-2: McIntosh; Hanson (Loria 79’), Phillips, Jadama, Mulligan; Arboleda, Anguiano, Lewis, Jambga (Zambrano  45’); Langsdorf (Williams 45’), Ebobisse.

Energy FC did the double over Portland last season, winning 2-1 at home in May and claiming a 3-1 win away in June. With upcoming trips to Swope Park and Reno in April, OKC will be looking to get back to winning ways at home and right the ship in the early stages of the 2018 campaign. The match against Portland Timbers 2 kicks off at 7pm on Saturday, April 7, and as always, you can get your tickets at energyfc.com/april7 or (405)235-KICK.