TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (12-5-8, 49 points) defeated Timbers2 (10-14-1, 31 points) 4-0 Monday evening at Starfire Stadium. Paul Rothrock recorded a second-half brace, with Sota Kitahara and Braudilio Rodrigues also scoring in the blowout win. Defiance wins the Pacific Division with the result and clinches a spot in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
Tacoma got on the board immediately, scoring in the second minute. Kitahara received a ball from Rodrigues outside of the area, firing a shot that took a deflection and found its way past Timbers2 goalkeeper Hunter Sulte. The strike marked Kitahara’s first of the year and Rodrigues’ fourth assist.
Rodrigues doubled Defiance’s lead in the 22nd minute, taking a pass from Blake Bowen and cutting around a Timbers2 defender before smashing a low shot across the face of goal for his team-leading 12th goal of the year.
Rothrock added a goal in the 48th minute, with Bowen again providing service into the area for a first-time shot past Sulte into the back of the net. Rothrock completed his brace in the 75th minute, combining with Gio Miglietti for an easy finish in front of goal.
The division title marks the second consecutive year that Tacoma has won the Pacific Division, also doing so last season during MLS NEXT Pro’s inaugural year.
Following tonight’s contest, Tacoma stays at home for a matchup against Earthquakes II on Sunday, September 10 at Starfire Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 4 – Timbers2 0
Monday September 4, 2023
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Tim Wagner
Assistants: Joshua Mills, Hunter Zachwieja
Fourth official: Aidan Velasco
Weather: 62 degree and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Sota Kitahara (Braudilio Rodrigues) 2’
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (Blake Bowen) 22’
TAC – Paul Rothrock (Blake Bowen) 48’
TAC – Paul Rothrock (Gio Miglietti) 75’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR – Michael Vang (caution) 12’
POR – Josh Penn (caution) 25’
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 73’
TAC – Frank Daroma (caution) 78’
POR – Victor Enriquez (caution) 90’ + 2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Abdoulaye Cissoko, Hal Uderitz – captain, Elias Katsaros; Ethan Dobbelaere, Frank Daroma (Snyder Brunell 85'), Sota Kitahara, Blake Bowen (Travian Sousa 80’); Georgi Minoungou (Gio Miglietti 65’), Paul Rothrock (Chris Aquino 80’), Braudilio Rodrigues (Juan Alvarez 85’)
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Eythor Bjørgolfsson, Pedro
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 10
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 3
Timbers2 – Hunter Sulte; Jaden Jones-Riley, Keesean Ferdinand, Julian Bravo (Tyler Clegg 83'), Justin Rasmussen (Sawyer Jura 83'); Victor Griffith, Michael Vang (Tega Ikoba 63’); Diego Gutiérrez, Ian Shaul (Victor Enriquez 79’), Josh Penn (Blake Pope 62’); Florián Monzón
Substitutes not used: Tristan Weber, Sawyer Jura, Selmir Miscic, Michael Dunne, Ryan Bilichuk
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 6
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 1
