Defiance will host Austin FC II in playoffs

Fresh off beating Houston Dynamo 2 in the first round of the MLS Next Pro playoffs, the Tacoma Defiance will now face No. 4 seed Austin FC II in the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday at Starfire Stadium.

The draw was determined when Colorado Rapids 2 selected No. 6 seed San Jose Earthquakes 2 as their opponent.

AustinII went on the road to be Sporting KC II in the first round of the playoffs, getting goals from David Rodriguez and Alfonso Ramirez. Former Tacoma Defiance defender Joe Lafferty started and played 90 minutes for AustinII, while former Sounders prospect Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez drew the penalty that led to the second goal.

AustinII and Defiance each won their home game against one another in regular-season meetings this year. AustinII won the first match, overcoming a 1-0 deficit and scoring the game-winner in the 94th minute after playing the last 30 or so minutes up a man. Defiance repaid the favor with a 1-0 win on June 25 behind a Braudilio Rodrigues goal.