TUKWILA, Wash. – A back-and-forth, high-scoring first half set up an even start to the second, where both The Town FC and Tacoma Defiance went down to the wire at Starfire Sports Complex.
However, the Defiance broke the tie in the 79th minute with the game-winning dagger to win 3-2.
While The Town FC lost the match, they proved that they could respond to adversity, answering to the opposition’s first-half scores accordingly to force an exciting finish.
Tacoma’s offense came out swinging, giving The Town FC goalkeeper Mikolaj Bieganski plenty of work to begin the match. The 22-year-old made some early saves — but the Defiance capitalized on an 18th-minute chance scored by midfielder Faysal Bettache — who was later named Adidas Man of the Match.
But it didn’t take long for The Town FC to reply, as they knotted the game up just four minutes later. Defender Aaron Edwards began the highlight-level play with a heave toward the six-yard box, which was headed to the post and in by defender Sean Bilter. The goal was Bilter’s first of the season.
Both sides were tied until the 39th-minute mark when Tacoma’s defender Travian Sousa finished off a crafty passing sequence to find the go-ahead goal. But again, The Town FC weren’t going to let the Defiance celebrate for long; midfielder Eduardo Blancas Maravilla powered in a shot from the right side to even the match once again only two minutes later, his second score of the year.
Equal at two goals to begin the second half, both clubs’ defenses shut down the opposing offenses, until Defiance forward Osaze De Rosario, who had just subbed in eight minutes earlier, found the match-sealing goal in the 79th minute for the win.
Unfortunately for The Town FC, they had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the second half, but couldn’t fully capitalize. Midfielder and captain Cruz Medina even hit the crossbar with the score tied but was unable to put the ball past goalkeeper Lars Helleren.
While The Town FC outshot Tacoma 13-12, the Defiance had seven shots on target, four more than the visiting club.
Edwards finished with a pair of assists, his first two of the season, which leads the team.
Thursday’s regulation loss was The Town FC’s second of the regular season and came following two consecutive victories. The Town FC now sit at a record of 2-2-2 with nine points and placed seventh in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Tacoma Defiance improved to second place with 14 points on a 4-2-1 record.
The Town FC will return to the Bay Area to begin a three-game homestand, beginning with the team’s first-ever bout at Saint Mary’s Stadium on May 3. The match will feature a matchup with Houston Dynamo 2, a team that has yet to find the win column this season.
The game will kick off at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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MATCH INFORMATION
2024 MLS NEXT Pro Season
Tacoma Defiance 3 – 2 The Town FC
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Scoring Summary:
TAC (1-0) – F. Bettache 18’
TTFC (1-1) – S. Bilter 22’
TAC (2-1) – T. Sousa 39’
TTFC (2-2) – E. Blancas 41’
TAC (3-2) – O. De Rosario 79’
Misconduct Summary:
TAC – A. Lopez (Caution) 26’
TAC – F. Bettache (Caution) 60’
TTFC – C. Walls (Caution) 64’
TAC – F. Daroma (Caution) 76’
Tacoma Defiance: L. Helleren (GK), S. Kitahara, S. Hawkins, A. Lopez, K. Kossa-Rienzi, F. Daroma, S. Brunell (O. De. Rosario – 71’), T. Sousa, F. Bettache (C), G. Minoungou (C. Aquino – 65’), Y. Tsukanome (E. Katsaros – 87’)
Substitutes not used: O. O’Malley, R. Miglietti, T. Wilson, B. Fahling
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 1
The Town FC: M. Bieganski (GK), O. Verhoeven, S. Bilter, C. Walls, J. Garcia (J. Spivey – 89’), B. Leroux (J. Donnery – 85’), E. Mendoza, C. Medina (C) (A. Chow – 85’), A. Edwards (R. Tsunehara – 85’), E. Blancas, R. Lynch
Substitutes not used: A. Cano, J. Nicolson, R. Ibarra
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4