Tacoma Defiance get back to winning ways

It didn’t start well, but the Tacoma Defiance looked much more like their old selves while erasing a 2-0 deficit to beat LAFC2 4-2 on Sunday. It was the Defiance’s first regulation win since June 29 and just their second regulation win since falling to the Portland Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup on May 6. The Defiance are now 2-7-3 in their last 12 MLS Next Pro games, but are still just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand.

Against LAFC2, the match started about as poorly as it could. Tino Lopez gave up an own-goal in the 9th minute and the Defiance were in a 2-0 hole after 16 minutes. In between those goals, Yu Tsukanome had a penalty saved.

But the Defiance came roaring back. Charles Dodzi scored off a Travian Sousa cross and then scored again off a scramble in the box to tie it up before halftime. After Omar Hassan drew a red card on a LAFC2 defender, the Defiance went ahead on a Sebastian Gomez goal from an Edson Carli assist. The Defiance then put the game away when Jackson Khoury set up Charlie Gaffney for a tap-in.

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