Defender Aaron Edwards scored The Town FC’s game-winning penalty kick after hitting the crossbar during the waning moments of regulation. (Photo / Jose Rocha)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — After finding the second-half equalizer, The Town FC rode its momentum to edge out the Tacoma Defiance in a shootout thanks to focused goalkeeping and clutch penalty shooting on Sunday.
Defender Aaron Edwards — who was coming off a heroic performance against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (9-7-6, 36 points) in which he notched a brace — tallied the game-winning penalty kick to send the PayPal Park crowd home happy following an intense shootout that saw both sides miss their first three attempts. Following a 1-1 draw in regulation, The Town (8-6-8, 36 points) won 2-1 in penalties to take two points versus Tacoma (10-8-4, 36 points).
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa made four saves in regulation and forced the Defiance to miss all but one shot in the shootout, which earned him Man of the Match honors.
“It gives the team a lot of confidence when you go into the PK shootout with [Ochoa],” head coach Daniel DeGeer said. “You know he’s going to make one, two, maybe three PK saves.”
TTFC found itself down early as Tacoma midfielder Chris Aquino headed in a cross in the 17th minute for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. While The Town had opportunities throughout the first half, it couldn’t match the Defiance’s success, forcing DeGeer to draw up a come-from-behind game plan at halftime.
“It took us about 20 to 25 minutes to get into the game and look a little more like ourselves,” DeGeer said. “After that, we created a lot of good chances in the first half, and at halftime, we talked a lot about our mentality and character.”
The Town FC caught a needed break in the 67th minute when midfielder Eduardo Blancas was awarded a penalty kick to potentially tie the game. Blancas would nail the attempt with ease, sending a jolt of energy into The Town’s lineup down the stretch. His goal was his sixth of the year, which co-leads the team.
“Everything led to that goal,” Blancas said. “It’s the hard work we put in that led to an amazing goal.”
The Town FC had a chance to take the lead in the 86th minute when Edwards was left all alone on the nearside of the 18-yard box, but his blistering attempt hit the crossbar.
When the referees blew the final whistle, TTFC was set to compete in its eighth shootout of the season. While the team failed to connect on its first three attempts, Ochoa held firm in goal, giving his team the chance to make up for its failed tries. Midfielder Beau Leroux and Edwards’ successful shots would be enough for The Town FC to prevail, allowing it to gain important ground in the Western Conference.
“It’s unfortunate not to come out of this game with three points,” Edwards said. “Lucky to score that PK and come out with the extra point.”
With only six regular-season matches to go, The Town sits in the West’s seventh position with four points ahead of Houston Dynamo 2 (8-9-6, 32 points) and Portland Timbers 2 (6-6-10, 32 points). As the season winds down, TTFC will hope for sustained success to remain in a highly competitive playoff race.
“We’re always confident going into whatever opponent we’re playing against, just playing the style we like to play,” Edwards said. “Staying together helps us.”
TTFC’s next three matches will all be on the road, starting in Portland. The Town FC will seek revenge against a Timbers 2 group that stole a 1-0 stoppage-time victory in the teams’ most recent bout on Aug. 4. Given that Portland is narrowly on the outskirts of the playoff line, it will be vying for a similar performance, while The Town FC will try to create separation in the table.
The Town will begin its September schedule against Timbers 2 on Sept. 1 at Providence Park in Portland. The match will start at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
MEDIA ASSETS
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MATCH INFORMATION
2024 MLS NEXT Pro Season
The Town FC 1[2] – 1[1] Tacoma Defiance
PayPal Park
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Scoring Summary:
TAC (1-0) — C. Aquino 17’
TTFC (1-1) — E. Blancas 67’
Misconduct Summary:
TAC — C. Aquino (Caution) 37’
TAC — T. Sousa (Caution) 66’
TTFC — E. Blancas (Caution) 87’
TAC — K. Kalani (Caution) 90 + 2’
TTFC — E. Ochoa (Caution) PK
The Town FC: E. Ochoa (GK), R. Ibarra (W. Eisner – 83’), C. Walls, A. Cano (J. Spivey – 90 + 5’), J. Garcia (O. Verhoeven – 46’), B. Leroux, E. Mendoza (R. Rajagopal – 88’), C. Medina (C), R. Lynch (J. Donnery – 83’), E. Blancas, A. Edwards
Substitutes not used: C. Cowell, S. Bilter, D. Sweeney, O. Hernandez
SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
Tacoma Defiance: L. Helleren (GK), T. Sousa, S. Hawkins, A. Lopez (C), K. Kossa-Rienzi, S. Brunell (B. Fahling – 77’), S. Kitahara, S. Gomez (O. O’Malley – 90 + 1’), C. Aquino (Y. Tsukanome – 67’), D. Teves (B. Bowen – 73’), O. De Rosario (R. Miglietti – 46’)
Substitutes not used: B. Rodrigues, M. Shour, S. Brun
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3