Continuing his hot start to the 2025 season, Yu Tsukanome turned in one of the most impressive performances in Tacoma Defiance history. The striker came off the bench to score a hat trick, sparking a comeback from 2-0 down in an eventual 5-3 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on Sunday.
Tsukanome, who now has six goals in five games across all competitions this season, only needed 23 minutes of playing time to bag the fourth hat trick in S2/Defiance history.
Prior to the Defiance comeback, Whitecaps 2 had scored a pair of goal in the second half and seemed well on their way to victory.
Jackson Khoury got the Defiance going with a nice finish off a ball over the top by Sounders Academy player Galatin Sandnes. Then Tsukanome took over. First, he took a pass from Travian Sousa, dribbled around a defender and then nutmegged another defender with a left-footed shot that got inside the far post. Just two minutes later, he gave the Defiance the lead, finishing off a cross from Danny Robles with his right foot. He completed his natural and perfect hat trick with a header from a Khoury pass. Sebastian Gomez then finished it off when he intercepted a pass and rounded the goalkeeper.
Highlights
Key players
Tsukanome: When the Defiance signed the Japanese striker out of the NPSL, they probably didn’t see him as much of a MLS prospect. But performances like this one will surely grab some attention. All three finishes were well taken and he has been showing a nose for goal, having already eclipsed last year’s scoring total.
Gomez: It was a bit of a roller-coaster game for the 19-year-old. After coming on as a sub, he had an awful giveaway that led directly the Whitecaps 2’s second goal. But he was also a key part of the comeback, pressing forward, applying pressure and ultimately getting the goal that really put the match away.
Charles Dodzi: The newest Defiance signing got a start in his first appearance and certainly wasn't afraid to get into tackles. Dodzi was 5 of 7 on tackles, won 11 of 14 duels and was credited with nine defensive actions. Definitely an interesting player.
Stats
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 5 – Whitecaps FC 2 3
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Iryna Petrunok
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Jordan Price
Fourth official: Kelsey Harms
Weather: 53 degrees and light rain
SCORING SUMMARY
VAN – Jackson Castro (penalty) 60’
VAN – Mateo Clark 63’
TAC – Jackson Khoury (Gallatin Sandnes) 70’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Travian Sousa) 74’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Danny Robles) 76’
TAC – Yu Tsukanome (Jackson Khoury) 88’
TAC – Sebastian Gomez 90+2’
VAN – Mark O’Neill (Mateo Clark) 90+4’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Danny Robles (caution) 26’
VAN – Johnny Selemani (caution) 45+4’
VAN – Jackson Castro (caution) 53’
TAC – Cody Baker (caution) 65’
VAN – Cyprian Kachwele (caution) 78’
TAC – Danny Flores (caution) 89’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Gallatin Sandnes, Leo Burney (Snyder Brunell 60’), Stuart Hawkins – captain; Charlie Gaffney (Cody Baker HT), Charles Dodzi (Yu Tsukanome 67’), Danny Robles, Birame Diaw (Travian Sousa HT); Edson Carli, Jackson Khoury, Rafferty Pedder (Sebastian Gomez HT)
Substitutes not used: Lars Helleren, Kaito Yamada, Peter Kingston, Joonmo Kang
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 16
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 2
Whitecaps FC 2 – Alexander Milosevic; Nikola Djordjevic (Daniel Russo 63’), Dembo Saidykhan, Mark O’Neill – captain, Deylen Vellios; Jackson Castro, Luca Chen (Danny Flores 77’), Nelson Pierre, Johnny Selemani, Cyprian Kachwele, Mateo Clark
Substitutes not used: Trystan Read, Francesco Troisi, Yuma Tsuji, Kyler Vojvodic
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 2
