Soccer on the Sound: Tacoma loses 10-goal thriller to Ventura County

Tacoma Defiance 4-6 Ventura County FC

TUKWILA, WA–In MLS NEXT Pro action, Tacoma Defiance scored four goals on Friday night, which is usually good for a victory. However, Ventura County scored six to win, 6-4 at StarFire Sports Complex.

Ventura needed just 36 second to get on the board as Jeorgio Kocevski collected a low cross from Nicklaus Sullivan. The lead lasted just five minutes as Leo Burney pass somehow found its way to Sebastian Gomez who would make it 1-1.

Gino Vivi restored Ventura’s lead in the 19th minute beating Mohammed Shour near post. Defending thru-balls continued to be optional by the 33rd minute as Dylan Vanney’s thru-ball got through the Tacoma defense to Harbor Miller who made it 3-1 to the visitors.

Ventura would make it 4-1 before halftime from the penalty spot after Sullivan was felled in the box and Kocevski converted the spot kick. Kocevski would complete his hat trick in the 56th minute to make it 5-1 Ventura.

Sebastian Gomez would complete his hat trick in the 86th minute pulling two goals back (the first in the 64th minute) to make it 5-3. However, a Thomas Musto free kick goal in the 88th minute would put paid any hopes of a miraculous comeback by Tacoma. Kaito Yamada did make it 6-4 in stoppage time, but that was as close as the Defiance got as Ventura went away with three points.

Ventura remain second in the Western Conference with the win ahead of Colorado Rapids 2 on goal difference. The Defiance slip to 12th in the West. Next up for the Defiance is a trip to Austin’s Q2 Stadium to face LAFC2, next Sunday. Kickoff is at 8pm PT on Apple TV.

Photos by Yuriy Tsupruk