Tacoma Defiance started their U.S. Open Cup run with a 3-1 win over amateur side Washington Athletic Club. WAC took an early lead in the 9th minute from a Nick O’Brien free kick following a foul at the edge of the box by Kaito Yamada on Eric Lagos.
Defiance dominated possession, but took nearly half an hour to find their equalizer through Edson Carli in the 37th minute. A second half brace from Yu Tsukanome — his first in the 47th minute and the final goal in the 71st — proved the difference as Defiance advanced to the next round.
While several of the difference-makers for Defiance hailed from elsewhere — Tsukanome’s goals were balanced on the other end by a strong performance from Yamada, and Jackson Khoury provided the assist on the third goal — WAC featured a number of familiar faces.
The visitors boast plenty of Seattle connections with much of the team having played for one of Seattle University or the University of Washington, as well as six players who spent time with the Sounders Academy in their youth including former Sounders player Dylan Teves.
Defiance have as of yet to learn their opponents for the next round, but the game will be played on April 1 or 2. That will be the team’s next game as they have two weeks without a league match.
Key players
Yu Tsukanome: Yu Tsukanome got the start as Defiance’s No. 9 with Osaze De Rosario away on international duty and he didn’t let Hervé Diese down. Tsukanome took six shots on his way to collecting his brace from a pair of well-taken goals that featured a good run and some nice hold-up play. Beyond his goals Tsukanome also did his part in build-up and possession, playing three passes into the final third and completing 2/3 long balls attempted. In addition he had a pair of recoveries, won 5 of 6 duels and was fouled twice.
Edson Carli: Carli started the game in midfield and struggled throughout to put his mark on the game. He completed 19 of 29 attempted passes, created a single chance, and only won 1 of 6 duels. He did have 3 recoveries, 7 passes into the final third and 3 touches in the box, but ultimately none of those stats matter because it was his goal that got Defiance on the board, and what a goal it was. Amidst a bit of a scramble in the area, Carli collected the ball and dribbled to the left across the box before chipping the ball across his body and into the far side netting over goalkeeper Seif Kerawala. The 17-year-old is collecting memorable goals, and hopefully he doesn’t stop any time soon.
Kaito Yamada: Around the midway point of the first half and Yamada’s performance was more cause for concern than anything else. He and Stuart Hawkins played a relatively simple ball over the top poorly leading to his foul and a yellow card to set up WAC’s opening goal, and Yamada struggled with pace on a couple of other occasions as the opponents tried to play over the top. As Defiance took control and Yamada sorted out his positioning he grew into the game to provide a sturdy presence at the back on both sides of the ball. He didn’t commit another foul as he won 7 of 10 duels (6 of 8 aerial duels), and completed 74 of 81 attempted passes including 6 into the final third, as well as going 7/9 on long balls.
Full Match of Tacoma Defiance vs. WAC
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 - Washington Athletic Club 1
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Alex Wolbert
Weather: 45 degrees and rainy
SCORING SUMMARY
WAC – Nick O’Brien 9'
TAC – Edson Carli 37’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Sebastian Gomez) 47’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Jackson Khoury) 71’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Kaito Yamada 7’
TAC – Ryan Baer 21'
WAC – Julian Avila-Good 27’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Lars Helleren; Charlie Gaffney (Mitchell Emert 71’), Kaito Yamada, Stuart Hawkins (Gallatin Sandnes HT), Travian Sousa (Birame Diaw HT); Peter Kingston, Ryan Baer (Danny Robles HT); Jonmoo Kang (Jackson Khoury 71'), Edson Carli, Sebastian Gomez; Yu Tsukanome
Substitutes not used: Mo Shour, Elias Katsaros
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 7
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 0
Washington Athletic Club – Seif Kerawala; Luke Hauswirth (Marshall Kosaka 72’), Mark Roth, Egor Akulov, Kasey French; Goncalo Mendes (Dylan Teves 61’), Christian Soto, Julian Avila-Good (Connor Lofy HT), Nick O’Brien (Scott Menzies 61’); Alex Hall (John Magnus 71’), Eric Lagos
Substitutes not used: Bernard Jones, Ryan DeGroot
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 9
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 1
