ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Tacoma Defiance (0-0-1, 2 points) drew 1-1 with St. Louis CITY2 (0-0-1, 1 point) Sunday afternoon at CITYPARK in its season-opening match. Defender Hal Uderitz scored the lone goal for Tacoma, who went on to win the ensuing shootout and claim the extra point on the road.
After over 75 minutes of scoreless action, it was Tacoma’s captain Uderitz who found the game’s opening goal. Second-half substitute Paul Rothrock delivered a looping ball in off a corner kick that found the head to Udertiz, who smashed it into the back of the net to give Tacoma the lead.
St. Louis equalized at the death, with substitute Mykhi Joyner heading a ball to the left-hand side of the net, past the outstretched hands of Defiance goalkeeper Andrew Thomas.
Tacoma was able to win the ensuing shootout 5-4, with the clinching goal coming from Uderitz after St. Louis’ Aaron Heard missed his attempt over the crossbar.
Following today’s result, Wade Webber’s side heads back to Starfire Stadium to host Real Monarchs in its home opener on Sunday, April 2 (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 1 (5) – St. Louis CITY2 1 (4)
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Venue: CITYPARK
Referee: Rebecca Pagan
Weather: 56 and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Hal Uderitz (Paul Rothrock) 76’
STL – Mykhi Joyner (Owen O’Malley) 90+4’
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
STL – Max Schneider (scored)
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (scored)
STL – Aziel Jackson (scored)
TAC – Eythor Bjørgolfsson (scored)
STL – Aaron Heard (missed)
TAC – Frank Daroma (scored)
STL – John Klein (scored)
TAC – Travian Sousa (scored)
STL – Michael Wentzel (scored)
TAC – Hal Uderitz (scored)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Ethan Dobbelaere (caution) 7’
STL – Aziel Jackson (caution) 19’
TAC – Hal Uderitz (caution) 20’
STL – Owen O'Malley (caution) 28’
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 35’
TAC – Eythor Bjørgolfsson (caution) 67’
TAC – Fito Ovalle (caution) 88’
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 90+1’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Andrew Thomas; Ethan Dobbelaere, Hal Udertiz – captain, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Travian Sousa; Frank Daroma, Daniel Leyva (Fito Ovalle 66'), Sota Kitahara (Christopher Aquino 90+3'), Dylan Teves (Paul Rothrock 71'), Braudilio Rodrigues (Sebastian Gomez 84'); Eythor Bjørgolfsson
Substitutes available: Wallis Lapsley, Gio Miglietti, Elias Katsaros, Stuart Hawkins, Etienne Veillard
St. Louis CITY2 – Michael Creek; Owen O’Malley (Nolan McGuire HT), Josh Maher, Michael Wentzel, Sergio Rivas (Aaron Heard 80'), Max Schneider, AJ Palazzolo (Braydon Sellers 66'), John Klein, Aziel Jackson, Wan Kuzain (Mykhi Joyner 66'); Dida Armstrong (Larsen Hackworth 90+3')
Substitutes not used: Christian Olivares, Eric Walker, Ryley Gibbs, Stanislav Koval
