HERRIMAN, UTAH – Tacoma Defiance (14-5-8, 55 points) defeated Real Monarchs (8-14-5, 31 points) 3-0 Friday evening at the Zions Bank Stadium. Braudilio Rodrigues scored a brace, setting the record for most goals scored in a season in club history, while Gio Miglietti added a goal as Defiance left Utah with all three points. The result locks up a second place finish in the Western Conference for Tacoma.
Rodrigues opened the scoring for Tacoma in the 23rd minute. Travian Sousa took a ball up the left flank, laying off a pass at the top of the area for the the midfielder, who took a dribble inside and fired a shot into the top corner of the goal. The strike marked Rodrigues’ 14th of the season, setting a new record for goals scored in a single season.
Miglietti doubled Tacoma’s lead in the 57th minute. Georgi Minoungou created space with a good individual effort before firing a low cross to Migleitti, who finished with his back heel over Real Monarchs’ goalkeeper Blake Kelly.
It was Rodrigues again in the 75th minute for Tacoma’s third of the night. He passed the ball up the left side for Pedro, who crossed it back to the midfielder for a volley into the back of the net. With the goal, the Portugal native currently sits tied for fourth in MLS NEXT Pro with 15 goals on the year.
Following tonight’s contest, Tacoma returns home for its final match of the regular season, a Decision Day fixture against Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, September 24 (2:00 p.m. PT).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 – Real Monarchs 0
Friday, September 15, 2023
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Karen Callado
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Ryan Jung
Fourth official: Nathan Boone
Weather: 69 degree and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (Travian Sousa) 23’
TAC – Gio Miglietti (Georgi Minoungou) 57’
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (Pedro) 75’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SLC – Gershon Henry (caution) 59’
TAC – Snyder Brunell (caution) 66’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Stuart Hawkins, Hal Uderitz – captain, Abdoulaye Cissoko; Blake Bowen, Juan Alvarez, Snyder Brunell (Fito Ovalle 70’), Travian Sousa (Pedro 74’); Dylan Teves (Gio Miglietti 46’), Georgi Minoungou (Chris Aquino 74’), Braudilio Rodrigues (Eythor Bjørgolfsson 80’)
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 9
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 4
Real Monarchs – Blake Kelly; Gershon Henry, Keller Storlie, Omar Alba, Cayne Madhlangove; Owen Anderson (Luca Moisa 72’), Jude Wellings; Tyrone Mondi – captain, Dominic Berrios (Griffin Dillon 46’), Terron Williams; Axel Kei (Kristian Kelley 72’)
Substitutes not used: Derrek Chan, Julian Vazquez, Sean Petrie, Amferny Arias, Izahi Amparo
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 13
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1
