TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (10-4-7, 41 points) defeated Sporting KC II (9-7-5, 35 points) 3-1 Wednesday evening at Starfire Stadium. Midfielder Braudilio Rodrigues recorded a hat trick to secure all three points for the home side.
Rodrigues opened the scoring in emphatic fashion, striking the ball from outside the area into the top of the net to give Tacoma the lead in the 30th minute. The Portugal native recorded his brace immediately into the second half when Travian Sousa played a low cross in front of goal right to the feet of Rodrigues, who connected for the easy finish in the 46th minute.
Rodrigues completed his hat trick with a stunning individual effort in the 54th minute. The midfielder received a pass from Snyder Brunell just in front of the area before lobbing the ball to himself as he closed in on net and finished the chance at the far post. The three-goal effort put Rodrigues at a team-best 10 goals on the year.
Sporting KC II pulled one back in the 81st minute, with Vitor Dias finishing the close-range effort.
With the result, Tacoma sits in first place in the Pacific Division with 41 points, six points above Earthquakes II.
Following today’s contest, Wade Webber’s side remains at home to take on Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday, August 13 (8:00 p.m. PT / MLSNEXTPro.com).
Tacoma Defiance 3 – Sporting KC II 1
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Venue: Starfire Sports Stadium
Referee: Calin Radosav
Assistants: Hunter Zachwieja, Mark Novosel
Fourth official: Mike Hohnholz
Weather: 73 degrees and mostly sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Braudílio Rodrigues (Hal Uderitz) 36’
TAC – Braudílio Rodrigues (Travian Sousa) 46’
TAC – Braudílio Rodrigues (Snyder Brunell) 54’
SKC – Vitor Diaz (Danny Flores) 81’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 38'
SKC – Michael Lenis (caution) 65’
SKC – Josh Coan (caution) 65’
TAC – Travian Sousa (ejection) 68’
TAC – Braudílio Rodrigues (caution) 71’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Wallis Lapsley; Stuart Hawkins, Fito Ovalle – captain, Elias Katsaros; Blake Bowen, Hal Uderitz, Snyder Brunell (Pedro 73’), Travian Sousa; Antonio Herrera (Georgi Minoungou 61’), Chris Aquino (Gio Miglietti 61’), Braudilio Rodrigues (Juan Alvarez 88’)
Substitutes not used: Trevor Wilson, Jack Jeremiah, Eythor Bjørgolfsson
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 4
Sporting Kansas City II – Ethan Bandré; Lucas Rosa (Michael Lenis 61’), Jahon Rad, Chris Rindov, Nati Clarke; Ethan Bryant (Enzo Mauriz 61’), Vitor Dias, Josh Coan; Alenis Vargas, Pau Vidal (Ozzie Cisneros 7’), Andrew Draper (Amadou Traoré 46’)
Substitutes not used: Sebastian Cruz, Stephen Afrifa, Danny Flores, Nassim Mekideche, Carlito Saylon
Total shots: 21
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 1
