ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Tacoma Defiance (1-1-1, 4 points) fell 4-3 to St. Louis City SC 2 (2-0-0, 6 points) in its first road match of the year. Tacoma scored two late goals to bring the score within one, but the comeback effort fell short as Defiance failed to find the equalizer.
Tacoma got on the scoreboard first thanks to an own goal by St. Louis City’s Josh Yaro in the 12th minute. Defiance’s Marlon Vargas streaked down the right flank, sending a cross into the area that deflected off Yaro’s foot and into the back of the net. St. Louis quickly responded in the 15th minute when Akil Watts fired a shot past the fingertips of Tacoma’s Andrew Thomas from outside the area.
In the 36th minute, St. Louis took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Célio Pompeu when he was able to find space on the near post and fire a shot through the legs of Thomas. The home side got its third goal in the 68th minute off a set piece that saw a ball played into AJ Palazzolo, who was able to head it home. Minutes later, St. Louis struck again to make it 4-1 after Max Schneider found the back of the net.
Tacoma was able to pull one back in the 78th minute when Sota Kitahara’s cross traveled across the area and found the head of Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, who scored his fourth goal in three games. Defiance scored again in the 88th minute when St. Louis goalkeeper Eric Walker came off his line and left an open net for Kitahara, who bagged his first goal of the season for the final 4-3 scoreline.
Wade Webber’s side returns to Starfire Stadium for its third home match in four weeks as it hosts Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, April 17 (3:00 p.m. PT / mlsnextpro.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 – St. Louis City SC 2 4
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Venue: Hermann Stadium
Referee: Michael Radchuk
Weather: 71 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Own Goal (Josh Yaro) 12’
STL – Akil Watts (Josh Dolling) 15’
STL – Célio Pompeu 36’
STL – AJ Palazzolo (Célio Pompeu) 68’
STL – Max Schneider (Josh Dolling) 70’
TAC – Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Sota Kitahara) 78’
TAC – Sota Kitahara (Joe Hafferty) 88’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
STL – Kyle Hiebert (caution) 32’
STL – Ben Di Rosa (caution) 63’
STL – Josh Dolling (caution) 86'
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Andrew Thomas; Dylan Teves (Joe Hafferty 75’), Josh Atencio, Hal Udertiz, Eric Kinzner, Randy Mendoza – captain (Travian Sousa 62’); Sota Kitahara, Danny Leyva (Adolfo Ovalle 74’), Marlon Vargas (Juan Alvarez 84’), Sam Adeniran; Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Achille Robin, Valentin Sabella
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 13
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 6
St. Louis City SC 2 – Eric Walker; Ben Di Rosa (Sergio Rivas 81’), Josh Yaro, Kyle Hiebert, Akil Watts, AJ Palazzolo, Max Schneider, Wan Kuzain (Karson Gibbs 73’), Vitor Dias (Kwame Awuah 66’), Célio Pompeu (Jack Wagoner 73’), Josh Dolling
Substitutes not used: Michael Creek, Dida Armstrong
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 12
Offside: 5
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 0
- DEFIANTLY TACOMA -
