TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (4-1-2, 16 points) drew 4-4 with Minnesota United FC 2 (3-2-3, 13 points) Sunday evening at Starfire Stadium. Braudilio Rodrigues scored a brace, with Gio Miglietti adding a goal and two assists as Defiance fought back from a 3-1 hole, winning the ensuing shootout to earn the extra point.
Rodrigues opened the scoring early for Tacoma in the eighth minute. Sebastian Gomez worked his way through multiple defenders, laying off a ball for Rodrigues. The midfielder took a touch and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net for the lead.
Minnesota responded with three consecutive goals between the 44th and 54th minutes. Diogo Pacheco, Molik Jesse Khan and Emmanuel Iwe all found the net as the visitors jumped to a 3-1 lead.
The home side brought one back in the 66th minute when substitute Miglietti got on the end of Blake Bowen’s cross and smashed a volley into the back of the net. Rodrigues completed his brace in the 75th minute with service from Miglietti, giving the Portuguese international three goals in his last two games.
Tacoma netted its fourth moments later in the 78th minute courtesy of Antonio Herrera. Miglietti and Fito Ovalle combined inside the area before finding Herrera for a short-range effort to give Tacoma the lead.
Minnesota leveled the match at the death, with Pacheco crossing the ball to an open Rory O’Driscoll, who finished the point-blank effort to send the game to kicks from the spot.
The away side failed to convert its first two attempts, while Tacoma made each of its four shots, giving Defiance the extra point.
Following today’s result, Wade Webber’s side heads north to take on Whitecaps FC 2 at Swangard Stadium on Sunday, May 21 (6:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 4 (4) – Minnesota United FC 2 4 (2)
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Karen Callado
Assistants: Ryan Jung, Cephas Quartson
Fourth official: Aiden Velasco
Weather: 87 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (Sebastian Gomez) 8’
MIN – Diogo Pacheco (Rory O’Driscoll) 44’
MIN – Molik Jesse Khan (Diogo Pacheco) 48’
MIN – Emmanuel Iwe (Jean Cedrik Gbo) 54’
TAC – Gio Miglietti (Blake Bowen) 66’
TAC – Braudilio Rodriges (Gio Miglietti) 75’
TAC – Antonio Herrera (Fito Ovalle, Gio Miglietti) 78’
MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (Diogo Pacheo) 90+1’
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MIN – Chineye Uche (saved)
TAC – Hal Uderitz (score)
MIN – Diogo Pacheo (miss)
TAC – Fito Ovalle (score)
MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (score)
TAC – Travian Sousa (score)
MIN – Molik Jesse Khan (score)
TAC – Frank Daroma (score)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 10’
MIN – Patrick Weah (caution) 16’
TAC – Frank Daroma (caution) 29’
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (caution) 35’
MIN – Jean Cedric Gbo (caution) 42’
MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (caution) 45+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Andrew Thomas; Antonio Herrera, Hal Uderitz, Stuart Hawkins, Travian Sousa; Frank Daroma, Fito Ovalle – captain, Sebastian Gomez (Christopher Aquino, 61’), Braudilio Rodrigues, Georgi Minoungou (Blake Bowen, 61); Eythor Bjørgolfsson (Gio Miglietti, 61’)
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Elias Katsaros
Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 12
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 6
Minnesota United FC 2 – Fred Emmings; Carlos Leatherman, Britton Fischer, Chineye Uche, Devin Padelford; Molik Jesse Khan, Jean Cedrik Gbo (Zaydan Bello, 86’), Rory O’Driscoll, Diogo Pacheco – captain, Patrick Weah (Kameron Lacey, 56’), Emmanuel Iwe (Fatorma Conneh, 71’)
Substitutes not used: William Pulisic, Nicholas Richardson
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 10
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1