CARSON, CALF. – Tacoma Defiance (2-1-0, 6 points) fell to Ventura County FC (3-0-0, 9 points) 5-2 at Dignity Health Sports Park for its first loss of the season on Sunday night. Yu Tsukanome and Osaze De Rosario both recorded strikes for Tacoma, but a flurry of goals by the home side proved enough to send Tacoma home empty handed.
After Ventura County scored three early goals, Tsukanome was able to get on the scoresheet for Tacoma before the halftime whistle. Faysal Bettache played a through ball to Owen O’Malley, who crossed it in front of goal to a sliding Tsukanome for the easy finish in the 40th minute.
Defiance was able to add another goal in the second half courtesy of De Rosario’s close-range strike, his first of the season, but two additional goals by Ventura County were too much to overcome as Tacoma dropped the road contest.
Following tonight’s match, Tacoma returns home to take on LAFC2 on Sunday, April 7 at Starfire Stadium (5:00 p.m. PT / MLSNEXTPro.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 2 – Ventura County FC 5
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistants: Jose Lara, Karsten Gillwald
Fourth official: Osvaldo Delgado Landeros
Weather: 58 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
VCFC – Ruben Ramos Jr. (Sean Karani) 12’
VCFC – Sean Karani (Jonathan Pérez) 23’
VCFC – Ruben Ramos Jr. (Jonathan Pérez) 34’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Owen O’Malley) 40’
VCFC – Gino Vivi (Jonathan Pérez) 56’
TAC – Osaze De Rosario (Travian Sousa) 69’
VCFC – Gino Vivi (Ruben Ramos Jr.) 73’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Owen O’Malley (caution) 17’
TAC – Frank Daroma (caution) 43’
TAC – Danny Leyva (caution) 52’
TAC – Hervé Diese (caution) 60’
VCFC – Riley Dalgado (caution) 90’
VCFC – Ascel Essengue (caution) 90+9’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Owen O’Malley (Antino Lopez 46’), Stuart Hawkins, Elias Katsaros, Travian Sousa; Frank Daroma, Danny Leyva (Burke Fahling 59’); Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Faysal Bettache – captain (Chris Aquino 77’), Sebastian Gomez (Gio Miglietti 46’); Yu Tsukanome (Osaze De Rosario 66’)
Substitutes not used: Lars Helleren, Pedro
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 13
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 5
Ventura County FC – Brady Scott; Mauricio Cuevas (Carson Klein 85’), Marcus Ferkranus (Carlos Diaz 86’), Ascel Essengue, Riley Dalgado; Tucker Lepley, Isaiah Parente (Nicolas Schelotto 85’); Jonathan Pérez, Ruben Ramos Jr. (Javier Corona Garcia 90+7’), Gino Vivi (Sergio Villalpando 85’); Sean Karani (Aaron Bibout 70’)
Substitutes not used: Diego Lopez, Lucca Adams, Christian Tchouante
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 14
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 5
