AUSTIN, TEXAS – Tacoma Defiance defeated Austin FC II 3-1 in the opening match of its 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign. Stuart Hawkins, Faysal Bettache and Gio Miglietti all scored Tacoma, as the club knocked off the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champion at Parmer Field.
After Austin’s Sebastian Pineau saw his second yellow and was sent off early in the second half, Hawkins scored in the 67th minute, getting his head on a rebounded shot and redirecting it into the back of the net. Bettache doubled Tacoma’s lead in the 75th minute, receiving a ball from Georgi Minoungou at the top of the area and lacing a left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal.
After Austin pulled one back in the 83rd minute, Miglietti iced the match in second-half stoppage time, finishing a pass from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi past the outstretched leg of Austin’s Marcus Alstrup.
Following the result, Tacoma returns to Starfire Stadium next week for its home opener against Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday, March 24 (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 – Austin FC II 1
Friday, March 15, 2024
Venue: Parmer Field
Referee: Melvin Rivas
Assistants: Bill Bolsen, Jason Guillen
Fourth official: Sean Caouette
Weather: 65 degrees and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Stuart Hawkins 67’
TAC – Faysal Bettache (Georgi Minoungou) 75’
ATX – Bryan Arellano 83’
TAC – Gio Miglietti (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi) 90+4’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATX – Alonso Ramírez (caution) 32’
ATX – Sebastien Pineau (caution) 48’
TAC – Stuart Hawkins (caution) 49’
ATX – Sebastien Pineau (ejection) 52’
ATX – Micah Burton (caution) 70’
TAC – Owen O’Malley (caution) 77’
ATX – Steeve Louis Jean (caution) 90+7’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Lars Helleren; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Antino Lopez, Stuart Hawkins, Travian Sousa; Frank Daroma, Sota Kitahara (Owen O’Malley 64’); Burke Fahling, Faysal Bettache – captain, Georgi Minoungou (Gio Miglietti 77’); Yu Tsukanome (Elias Katsaros 85’)
Substitutes not used: Trevor Wilson, Pedro, Chris Aquino, Sebastian Gomez
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 16
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 3
Austin FC II – Marcus Alstrup; Steeve Louis Jean, Antonio Gomez, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Anthony De Anda; Alonso Ramírez, Micah Burton, Bryan Arellano (Christopher Garcia 84’); Anthony Garcia (Jonathan Santillian 64’), Sébastien Pineau, CJ Fodrey
Substitutes not used: Aaron Cervantes, Joah Reyna, Luke Spadafora, Mason Miller, Drake Fournier, Gavin Wolff
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 20
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 4
