Soccer on the Sound: Defiance rally falls short on penalties

Tacoma Defiance 2-2 LAFC 2 (LAFC 2 win 4-1 on penalties)

TUKWILA, WA–Despite two late goals, Tacoma Defiance’s opening match in MLS Next Pro resulted in a loss on penalties to LAFC 2 following a 2-2 draw. It started inauspiciously for the Defiance just four minutes in when Tommy Mihailc scored from just inside the area. Mihalic almost made it 2-0 before halftime, but struck off the bar.

Matt Evans would find the target in the 65th minute doubling LAFC 2’s advantage. However, Yu Tsukanome pulled one back for the Defiance in the 81st minute and then Codey Phoenix would send a cross into the box that would be headed in by Mark Bronnik four minutes later.

The match went to a penalty shootout and LAFC 2 went 4-for-4 on their spot kicks while Cabral Carter saved two of three Tacoma penalties. Next up for the Defiance is a trip to Houston to play Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday at 4pm PT on Apple TV.

Photos by Yuriy Tsupruk

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Dan Gaichas

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