TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (2-0-0, 6 points) defeated Colorado Rapids 2 (1-1-0, 3 points) 4-2 for its second consecutive win to start the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Faysal Bettache scored a brace, with Georgi Minoungou and Yu Tsukanome adding their first strikes of the season as Defiance took all three points at Starfire Stadium in its home opener.
Minoungou opened the scoring for Tacoma in the 15th minute, receiving a long ball from Bettache at the edge of the area and cutting back before firing a shot into the back of the net. Bettache doubled the lead in the 35th minute, jumping on a Colorado giveaway and slotting home the easy finish. Marlon Vargas pulled one back for the visitors with an individual effort at the stroke of halftime.
Bettache got his second of the match in the 49th minute. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi dribbled to the top of the area before laying a pass off for the midfielder, who took a touch before smashing a left-footed shot into goal. Tsukanome followed up with his first goal since joining Defiance in the 59th minute, tapping home low cross from Travian Sousa. Colorado scored its second goal in the 77th minute off a corner kick.
Following tonight’s match, Tacoma travels to Southern California to take on Pacific Division opponent Ventura County FC on Sunday, March 31 (5:00 p.m. PT / MLSNEXTPro.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 4 – Colorado Rapids 2 2
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Corbyn May
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Cephas Quartson
Fourth official: Hunter Zacwieja
Weather: 58 degrees and mostly sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Georgi Minoungou (Faysal Bettache) 15’
TAC – Faysal Bettache (Yu Tsukanome) 35’
COL – Marlon Vargas (Wayne Frederick) 45+2’
TAC – Faysal Bettache (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi) 49’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Travian Sousa) 59’
COL – Joshua Belluz (Robinson Aguirre) 77’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 44’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Cody Baker (Sebastian Gomez 46’), Antino Lopez, Stuart Hawkins, Travian Sousa; Snyder Brunell (Owen O’Malley 88’), Frank Daroma; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Faysal Bettache – captain (Chris Aquino 74’), Georgi Minoungou (Burke Fahling 65’); Yu Tsukanome (Gio Miglietti 65’)
Substitutes not used: Lars Helleren, Pedro, Elias Katsaros, Osaze De Rosario
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 9
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 0
Colorado Rapids 2 – Ethan Bandré, Daniel Garcia (Patrick Dormoh 65’), Joshua Belluz, Nate Jones, Logan Batiste (Miguel Alvarado 65’), Wayne Frederick, Robinson Aguirre (Colton Swan 85’), Ricardo Peña (Noah Strellnauer 65’), Antony García (Rogelio Garcia 65’), Alec Díaz, Marlon Vargas
Substitutes not used: Zackory Campagnolo, Andre Romo
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 12
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 1
