TACOMA, WA – Whitecaps FC 2 fought until the end, but fell to a 4-2 defeat to Tacoma Defiance.
The match started off with a frantic opening stretch between the two Cascadia clubs.
The Defiance drew first blood from striker Mark Bronnik. Three minutes in, he found open space to nod home past WFC2 goalkeeper Sam Rogers.
But the 16-year-old ’keeper and his teammates fought back to convert for the equalizer less than 180 seconds later. Off a Yeider Zuluaga free kick, the ball floated into the box for a sweet tap-in by Daniel Ittycheria.
That successful strike was the former Ivy Leaguer’s team-leading ninth goal of the season.
After the half-hour, Tacoma scored on a penalty kick from Edson Carli.
After the second half began, Tacoma again scored three minutes into play. Carli split two defenders to tap forward a through ball for oncoming Rafael Jauregui, who slipped in a third goal.
A WFC2 own goal, plus a Blue and White strike from Carson Rassak rounded out the scoring. Late on, WFC2 centre back Immanuel Mathe was ejected for a challenge on Bronnik five minutes from time.Â
Next up, the young ’Caps will bring a Texas-sized appetite for victory to an away match at Austin FC II on Saturday, August 15 at 5:30 p.m. PT. You can cheer on WFC2 by watching on MLSNEXTPro.com or OneFootball.
Near the end of the month, WFC2 will return home to Swangard to take on LAFC 2 on Wednesday, August 26 at 6 p.m. PT.Â
For every home match this season, WFC2 tickets are only $10 each. Tickets can be purchased at whitecapsfc/com/wfc2. Season ticket members can access complimentary WFC2 tickets by using their account number as the access key at checkout. Youth who are 18 and under get in free.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Kelsey Harms
Scoring Summary
3’ – TAC – Mark Bronnik (Charlie Gaffney)
6’ – VAN – Daniel Ittycheria (Yeider Zuluaga)
37’ – TAC – Edson Carli (penalty kick)
48’ – TAC – Rafael Jauregui (Edson Carli)
69’ – TAC – Manav Badwal (own goal)
79’ – VAN – Carson Rassak (Cristiano Bruletti)
Cautions
23’ – VAN – Yuma Tsuji
33’ – TAC – Codey Phoenix
83’ – TAC – Bryan Cisneros-Tafolla
Ejection
85’ – VAN – Immanuel Mathe
Statistics
Possession: TAC 42% – VAN 58%
Shots: TAC 17 – VAN 7
Shots on Goal: TAC 8 – VAN 3
Saves: TAC 1 – VAN 4
Fouls: TAC 15 – VAN 14
Offsides: TAC 4 – VAN 0
Corners: TAC 4 – VAN 4
Tacoma Defiance
50.Max Anchor; 47.Demian Alvarez, 53.Gallatin Sandnes, 58.Jasper Winslow; 84.Charlie Gaffney (67.Taiki Sugitani 90’), 34.Daniel Robles, 32.Xavi Gnaulati (63.Bryan Cisneros-Tafolla 74’), 48.Codey Phoenix (80.Drew Brown 67’); 30.Edson Carli (97.Saku Kitafuji 90’), 42.Rafael Jauregui (43.Omar Hassan 74’); 81.Mark Bronnik
Substitutes not used
41.Mohammed Shour, 76. Vitalii Kolomiets, 82.Bridger Sandnes, 96.Chris Montero
Whitecaps FC 2
60.Sam Rogers; 53.Immanuel Mathe, 71.Manav Badwal, 48.Micaah Garnette; 68.Yuma Tsuji, Cristiano Bruletti ©, 62.Ryder Sewell (64.Tyler Brown 74’), 63.Johnny Selemani (51.Kevin Podgorni HT); 61.Carson Rassak, 44.Daniel Ittycheria, 45.Yeider Zuluaga
Substitutes not used
70.Timothy Lodder, 56.Liam Campagna, 72.Aiden Bejaoui