BLAINE, MIN. – Tacoma Defiance (12-4-4, 43 points) fell to Minnesota United FC 2 (8-7-4, 31 points) by a score of 2-1 on Monday night. Abdoulaye Cissoko’s goal for Tacoma was not enough as Minnesota stormed back with goals from Aziel Jackson and Sagir Arce to take the victory. The loss snaps a five-match winning streak for Defiance, who remains in first place in the MLS NEXT Pro standings with 43 points with four matches remaining.
It was well into the second half before the scoreless deadlock was broken. After Tacoma defender Achille Robin drew a foul inside the area, Cissoko stepped up the spot and buried the ensuing penalty for the opening goal in the 71st minute.
Minnesota quickly answered in the 74th minute, with Jackson smashing a ball into the top corner of the net from outside the area, narrowly beating Tacoma goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley to level the score. Arce bagged the late winner for the Loons in the 92ndminute, receiving a ball from Jackson, turning and firing a shot into the back of the net from just inside the area.
Following tonight’s match, Wade Webber’s side returns home for its second-to-last home match of the year, taking on Sporting Kansas City II on Saturday, August 20 (7:00 p.m. PT / mlsnextpro.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 1 – Minnesota United FC 2 2
Monday, August 15, 2022
Venue: National Sports Center Stadium
Referee: Drew Klemp
Weather: 75 degree and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (penalty) 71’
MIN – Aziel Jackson (Ignacio Gutierrez) 74’
MIN – Sagir Arce (Aziel Jackson) 90+2’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
MIN – Ignacio Gutierrez (caution) 45’
MIN – Nabilai Kibunguchy (caution) 46’
TAC – Joe Hafferty (caution) 51’
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 79’
TAC – Reed Baker-Whiting (caution) 83’
MIN – Aziel Jackson (caution) 89’
TAC – Valentin Sabella (caution) 89’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Wallis Lapsley; Joe Hafferty, Achille Robin, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Randy Mendoza – captain; Cody Baker, Reed Baker-Whiting, Marlon Vargas; Ethan Dobbelaere (Valentin Sabella, 78’), Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Travian Sousa (Juan Alvarez, 84’)
Substitutes not used: Levi Bieber, Hal Uderitz, Georgi Minoungou, Alfred Gombe-Fei
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 14
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 5
Minnesota United FC 2 – Alec Smir; Carlos Leatherman, Jason Ramos, Nabilai Kibunguchy, Devin Padelford; Ignacio Gutierrez, Diogo Pacheco, Nicolas Mendonca, Justin McMaster (Sagir Arce, 72’); Thomas Williamson (Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi, 72’), Aziel Jackson
Substitutes not used: Grayson Frum, Loic Mesvani, Perry Blay, David Garcia
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 19
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 1
