Back at home after a month, Tacoma Defiance are back at Cheney Stadium in the shadow of Tahoma. Perfect at home this year, the 2-3-1, -4 side need the boost of the home crowd and familiar beds. They start the night at 6th in the Pacific Division.

Tonight’s opponent is Real Monarchs SLC, an echo of the Lumen Field match with Real Salt Lake visiting Seattle Sounders. Monarchs are 7th in the 7-team Mountain Division with a record of 1-5-2, -5.

Neither team should have much help from their First Team loandowns for this match. 538 has Tacoma as the favorites (41% chance at a win). American Soccer Analysis sees Monarchs as the slightly better team overall, but Defiance have a tiny home-away xGD advantage of 0.02.

Why You Should Watch

1. You’re a development nerd. The First Team is playing at the exact same time as Defiance tonight. Those that choose to watch Defiance either love Tacoma or love watching prospects. Both of those are cool. Youngsters will feature on both sides as Real Monarchs moved to a Tacoma-style youth structure in 2021.
2. What’s the point of having multiple screens if you aren’t going to use them? You have a TV, a computer, and a phone — that’s enough to watch Sounders, Defiance, and comment on Sounder at Heart. Good on ya. I promise at least one reference to kobolds, another to the spell heat metal, and probably a reference to dragons.
3. Learning the 3-4-3. While Seattle isn’t using it yet, this formation may be the answer to 2022’s question of how to get Jordan Morris back on the field. Defiance have used it to some success so far, with their largest challenge being that they usually start two 8s rather than have two more traditional defensive mids.

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Wednesday, June 23, 7 PM PT

Venue: Cheney Stadium I Tacoma

Online Streaming: ESPN+ (affiliate link)

Defiance Injuries: Out: Joe Hafferty (facial fracture)

Monarchs Injuries: OUT: James Moberg, Jimmy Slayton, Jeff Dewsnup, Bode Davis