Tacoma Defiance fall 4-1 in MLS Next Pro playoffs

Jeremiah Oshan -

After jumping out to a 1-0 lead, the Tacoma Defiance were eliminated from the MLS Next Pro playoffs in a 4-1 loss to No. 1 seed North Texas in the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday.

Chris Aquino scored a goal somewhat against the run of play in the 18th minute when his shot from about 25 yards out took a slight deflection. But the lead was short-lived as North Texas equalized just two minutes later.

The Defiance managed to get to halftime tied, but North Texas took their first lead almost immediately after that when Herbert Endeley got behind the defense and sent in a cross that first-teamer Logan Farrington scored in the 48th minute. Carl Sainte then added an insurance goal in the 66th minute when he converted off his own rebound.

The Defiance seemed to get a lifeline in the 69th minute when Synder Brunell played Yu Tsukanome in behind the North Texas defense and was taken down by Tyshawn Rose, who was red-carded. But just five minutes later Tino Lopez was sent off with his second yellow card to make it 10v10. North Texas added a fourth goal almost immediately after that.

Highlights

Stats

MATCH SUMMARY

Tacoma Defiance 1 – North Texas SC 4

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Venue: Choctaw Stadium

Referee: Gerald Flores

Assistants: Chris Schurfranz, Austin Holt

Fourth official: Trevor Wiseman

Weather: 73 degrees and sunny 

SCORING SUMMARY

TAC – Chris Aquino (Elias Katsaros) 18’

NTX – Pedro Fonesca (Diego Garcia) 20’

NTX – Logan Farrington (Herbert Endeley) 48’

NTX – Carl Sainte 66’

NTX – Anthony Ramirez (Tomas Pondeca) 77’ 

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY 

TAC – Antino Lopez (caution) 57’

NTX – Tyshawn Rose (ejection) 70’

NTX – Antino Lopez (ejection) 75’

LINEUPS & STATS  

Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Antino Lopez – captain, Stuart Hawkins, Elias Katsaros (Yu Tsukanome 69’); Snyder Brunell, Sota Kitahara; Dylan Teves (Osaze De Rosario 57’), Chris Aquino (Travian Sousa 46’), Sebastian Gomez (Braudilio Rodrigues 57’); Gio Miglietti (Blake Bowen 45+1) 

Substitutes not used: Lars Helleren, Burke Fahling

Total shots: 12

Shots on goal: 3

Fouls: 8

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 6

Saves: 6 

North Texas SC – Michael Collodi; Herbert Endeley, Nico Gordon, Carl Sainte (Nicholas Mendoca 86’), Mads Westergren, Tyshawn Rose; Pedro Fonseca (Abdoul Zanne 71’), Nolan Norris, Diego Garcia (Anthony Ramirez 71’), Enes Sali (Tomas Pondeca 71’); Logan Farrington (Tarik Scott 80’)

Substitutes not used: Malik Henry-Scott, Turner Humphrey, Daniel Baran, Juan Antonio Carrera Zarzar 

Total shots: 21

Shots on goal: 10

Fouls: 9

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 9

Saves: 2