The Tacoma Defiance opened 2026 with a draw against LAFC 2 and were unable to secure the extra point by losing the shootout on Sunday. The tactical look of the side was very similar to what we have seen with the first team where in rest defense they would set up in a 4-4-2 block and on the offensive side play in a 3-2-2-3 setup with the left back staying home to make the back three and the right back getting high.
LAFC 2 was the more dominant side for much of the game, keeping a majority of possession and turning that into solid chances. They were particularly dangerous down the left wing where Tommy Mihalić was found early and often to create the majority of their chances, including his opening goal in the fourth minute. Their second goal started from Mihalić again, getting free on the left and putting in a cross that wasn’t cleared effectively. It fell to Matt Evans in the 18 and was blasted past Shour.
The Defiance showed a no-quit attitude that is a staple of this club when they came storming back in the last 10 minutes. First, Yu Tsukanome clawed a goal back after strong hold up play before making a hard run into the 18 where he was found by a cross from new signing Rafael Jauregui. Four minutes later, Defiance equalized on a great connection between two new signings, Codey Phoenix and Mark Bronnik. Phoenix found the ball on the left side of the 18 and put in a beautifully shaped cross to a ghosting Bronnik who was able to head it home.
Tsukanome had a chance to win it on the final play of the match when he won a ball to get past the onrushing goalkeeper, but then shot just high at the open net while under some pressure from a defender.
In MLS Next Pro, draws go to a penalty shootout for the winner to earn an extra point. Unfortunately Defiance wasn’t able to complete the comeback and fell 4-1.
Overview
Lineup
Substitutes
- 61’ Codey Phoenix ⇆ Sebastian Gomez
- 61’ Mark Bronnik ⇆ Cody Baker
- 61’ Rafael Jauregui ⇆ Nikola Petković
- 76’ Mark O’Neill ⇆ Charlie Gaffney
Goals
- 4’ LAFC 2 - ⚽Tommy Mihalić (Matthew Evans)
- 65’ LAFC 2 - ⚽Matthew Evans
- 81’ Defiance - ⚽Yu Tsukanome (Rafael Jauregui)
- 85’ Defiance - ⚽Mark Bronnik (Codey Phoenix)
Stats
Key performers
Mohammed Shour
It was the play of Mo Shour that kept Defiance in the game and able to make the thrilling comeback. The two goals conceded he couldn’t do much about and he had massive saves in the 10th, 28th and 31st minute, ending the match with six total saves. The 28th minute save in particular showed his athleticism with a diving save to his right on a ball that looked to be going into the corner. He was unable to make a save in the shootout.
Yu Tsukanome
Tsukanome was the driving force in the Defiance push at the end of the game and scored the goal that gave the team life. He continued to be dangerous with a long pinpoint cross to Rafael Jauregui in the 93rd minute and a missed open net on the last kick of the game to seal the win. While his most dangerous attacking moments came in that final 10 minutes, he had a solid shift throughout the game, finishing with 87% passing and winning 50% of his duels.
Rafael Jauregui
The new winger entered the game in the 61st minute alongside Codey Phoenix and Mark Bronnik and managed to put in the best performance of the trio. He was consistently an outlet on the right side and showed quality vision to create dangerous chances. The first being his curling cross behind the backline right in Yu’s path for the first Defiance goal. The second goal also started from his exceptional cross-field ball to find Phoenix who would ultimately get the assist.
