TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance fell to Austin FC II 1-0 Sunday night at Starfire Stadium in the Western Conference Semifinals. The result concludes the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign for Defiance, who won the Pacific Division and finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season.
After over an hour of back-and-forth action, Defiance was forced to play with 10 men for the final 20 minutes after Abdoulaye Cissoko was shown a red card in the 69th minute. Austin found the game-winner courtesy of Valentin Noël, slotting home a ball from inside the area in the 82nd minute. Defiance created multiple chances in the dying minutes of second-half stoppage time, but failed to find the equalizer and saw its postseason run come to an end.
Tacoma finished the regular season second place overall in the Western Conference with 57 points (14-5-9). This marked the second consecutive playoff appearance for Defiance, who reached the Western Conference Final last year.
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 0 – Austin FC II 1
Sunday October 8, 2023
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: John Griggs
Assistants: Tom Felice, Seth Martin
Fourth official: Matthew Corrigan
Weather: 54 degree and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
ATX – Valentin Noël (David Rodríguez) 82’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATX – Christo Vela (caution) 30’
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (caution) 61’
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (ejection) 69’
TAC – Frank Daroma (caution) 74’
ATX – Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez (caution) 89’
TAC – Fito Ovalle (caution) 89’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Fito Ovalle – captain, Stuart Hawkins, Abdoulaye Cissoko; Blake Bowen, Hal Uderitz, Frank Daroma, Travian Sousa; Ethan Dobbelaere (Gio Miglietti 54’), Dylan Teves (Georgi Minoungou 86’), Braudilio Rodrigues
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Antonio Herrera, Pedro, Chris Aquino, Juan Alvarez
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3
Austin FC II – Damian Las; Charlie Asensio, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Joe Hafferty, Cheick Touré; Alonso Ramírez, Christo Vela (Emmanuel Johnson 90+2'), Bobosi Byaruhanga; Valentin Noël (Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez 84’), Sebastien Pineau, David Rodríguez
Substitutes not used: Christopher Pinkham, Jonathan Santillan, Bryan Arellano, Anthony De Anda, Spencer Sanderson, Steeve Louis Jean, Leo Torres
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 16
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 2
