Tacoma Defiance Falls to Portland in Regular Season Finale, Set to Face Houston in Western Conference Semifinals
September 18, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Tacoma Defiance News Release
TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (14-6-4, 49 points) fell 2-0 to Portland Timbers2 (2-18-4, 14 points) Sunday afternoon at Starfire Stadium in the final match of the 2022 regular season campaign. Having already clinched the Pacific Divison and a spot in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, Wade Webber’s side finishes as the second overall seed in the Western Conference and is set to host Houston Dynamo 2 in the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, September 25 at Starfire Stadium (7:30 p.m. PT/ mlsnextpro.com).
Tickets for next weekend’s match are available now, with all sales benefitting the RAVE Foundation.
After Tacoma went down to 10 men in the 61st minute, Portland got its first goal moments later as Selmer Miscic crossed the ball into the area and found Diego Gutierrez, who smashed it home. Gutierrez scored his second in the 75th minute, this time trying his luck from outside the 18-yard-box, finding the bottom right corner of the net.
Defiance finishes its inaugural MLS NEXT Pro regular season campaign with 49 points, tied for the second-highest total across the league. The club’s 57 goals and plus-32 goal differential rank first in the Western Conference and second league-wide.
MEDIA RESOURCES
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
IMAGES FOR EDITORIAL USE
VIDEO – WADE WEBBER POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
VIDEO – MARLON VARGAS POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 0 – Portland Timbers2 2
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Adorae Monroy
Weather: 72 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
POR – Diego Gutierrez (Selmer Miscic) 66′
POR – Diego Gutierrez (Ismalia Jome) 75′
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR – Johan Hinestroza (caution) 10′
TAC – Randy Mendoza (caution) 54′
TAC – Randy Mendoza (ejection) 61′
POR – Selmir Miscic (caution) 63′
POR – Justin Vom Steeg (caution) 88′
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Wallis Laspley, Cody Baker (Joe Hafferty, 84′), Jackson Ragen, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Randy Mendoza – captain; Snyder Brunell (Travian Sousa, 55′), Sota Kitahara, Ethan Dobbelaere (Hal Uderitz, 55′), Marlon Vargas, Dylan Teves (Valentin Sabella, 86′); Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Substitutes not used: Wyatt Nelson, Achille Robin, Juan Alvarez, Alfred Gombe-Fei, Etienne Veillard
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 2
Portland Timbers2 – Justin Vom Steeg; Justin Rasmussen (Ismalia Jome, 73′), Julian Bravo, Carlos Vivas, Sivert Haugli, Pablo Bonilla; Johan Hinestroza (Alex Moreno, 81′), Selmir Miscic (Victor Enriquez Velazquez, 90+2′), Victor Griffith, Dawson McCartney; Diego Gutierrez
Substitutes not used: Noah Lawrence, Adrian Oretellao, Christian Mendoza, Cole Aman, Ryan Zellefrow, Gerardo Duran
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 15
Offside: 4
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 2
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