EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. – Tacoma Defiance fell 2-1 against St. Louis CITY2 in the Western Conference Final tonight at Ralph Korte Stadium, ending its MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs run. Abdoulaye Cissoko scored from the spot in the second half, as Tomas Ostrak and Josh Dolling bagged scores for the home side, enabling St. Louis to advance to MLS NEXT Pro Cup against Columbus.
St. Louis got on the board first courtesy of Ostrak in the 31st minute. The midfielder took a couple of touches outside the area to find space before launching a shot into the top left corner of the goal. The home side doubled its lead in the second half, when Dolling headed a ball from Max Schneider at the near side of goal and into the back of the net.
Tacoma got a goal back in the 76th minute via a penalty kick. After Defiance drew a foul inside the area, Cissoko stepped up to the spot and buried the ensuing spot-kick into the bottom corner of the net.
Tacoma finished the regular season second place overall in the Western Conference with a 14-6-4 record (49 points), leading the entire Western Conference in goals (57) and goal difference (+32).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 1 – St. Louis CITY2 2
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Venue: Ralph Korte Stadium
Referee: Elton García
Assistants: Zeno Cho, Rhett Hammil
Fourth official: Benjamin Meyer
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
STL – Tomas Ostrak 31’
STL – Josh Dolling (Max Schneider) 59’
TAC – Abdoulaye Cissoko (penalty) 76’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
STL – Josh Yaro (caution) 58’
STL – Akil Watts (caution) 70’
TAC – Hal Uderitz (caution) 90’ + 2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Wallis Lapsley; Cody Baker, Achille Robin, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Randy Mendoza – captain (Joe Hafferty, 63’); Fito Ovalle (Reed Baker Whiting, 57’), Sota Kitahara, Dylan Teves (Georgi Minoungou, 63’), Marlon Vargas, Travian Sousa; Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Substitutes not used: Wyatt Nelson, Hal Uderitz, Valentin Sabella, Juan Alvarez, Alfred Gombe-Fei
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 8
Offside: 4
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 2
St. Louis CITY2 – Michael Creek; Akil Watts, Kyle Hiebert, Joshua Yaro, Benjamin Di Rosa; Max Schneider, AJ Palazzolo (Selmir Pidro 77’); Isak Jensen (Dida Armstrong 70’), Tomás Ostrák (Vitor Dias 71’), Célio Pompeu (Ezra Armstrong 89’); Josh Dolling (Wan Kuzain 89’)
Substitutes not used: Sergio Rivas, Josh Maher, Miguel Perez, Ian McGrane
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 13
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 2
- DEFIANTLY TACOMA -
