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Matchday Report: Defiance Down SD Loyal, Maintain Undefeated Home Record

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 07/30/21, 12:06AM EDT

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Gonzalez has goal, assist as Tacoma earns 2-1 victory to remain in middle of playoff battle

TACOMA, Wash. – The Tacoma Defiance maintained their undefeated home record this season as second-half goals by Azriel Gonzalez and Carlos Anguiano earned the side a 2-1 victory against San Diego Loyal SC on Thursday night at Cheney Stadium.

Looking to rebound from defeat last Saturday night, San Diego created an early chance as Tumi Moshobane played Charlie Adams into the left side of the penalty area for a shot that flew over the crossbar. The Defiance’s first good look came from a set piece in the 19th minute as Tom Brewitt headed over from a deliver on the left by Carlos Anguiano, while a few minutes later San Diego also had a half-chance from a set piece as Adams’ free kick delivery from the left channel was sent high by Callum Montgomery.

The hosts threatened more seriously with just over 20 minutes gone as Sam Adineran got round Montgomery on the right side before moving into the penalty area, but Montgomery recovered well to get in a tackle to break up the attack. Adams then blocked a chance a minute later after the ball came back to Juan Alvarez on the right following a corner kick, giving him a chance to move into the penalty area and shoot from a narrow angle.

Grant Stoneman went closer to giving SD Loyal the lead 11 minutes before halftime as Adams delivered a good free kick from the left that the center back headed just wide of the right post. Stoneman was involved soon after at the defensive end as he blocked away a shot by Adineran after a good through-ball by Issa Rayyan set up a chance in the right side of the penalty area. Rayyan then had a big chance just before halftime on a counterattack but couldn’t direct his finish past Trey Muse, who gathered at the second attempted as the ball spun under him as he got a piece to leave the teams scoreless at halftime.

Tacoma took the lead five minute into the second half, however, as Juan Alvarez turned a shot on target from a low cross on the left by Randy Mendoza that Muse didn’t handle cleanly, allowing Gonzalez to clean up the loose ball from the close range. Anguiano then went close to doubling its lead in the 54th minute when Adeniran gained possession and set up the midfielder for a from 16 yards that went just wide of the left post.

SD Loyal leveled in the 55th minute as Miguel Ibarra dug out an excellent cross from near the corner flag on the left that set up Tumi Moshobane for a strong header into the right corner of the net. Ten minutes later, though, the Defiance regained the lead as Jack Blake had a pass in his own half intercepted by Azriel Gonzalez, who quickly played a backheeled pass that sent Anguiano into the penalty area for a shot into the top-right corner of the net.

The visitors pushed to find another equalizer, and with 11 minutes to go Ibarra was denied on a turning shot inside the penalty area as Mendoza blocked the effort with a headed clearance that sent the ball beyond the box. Blake then fired a free kick from the right of center toward the top-left corner of the net only for Tacoma goalkeeper Andy Thomas to make a solid save, and the English midfielder tried again with four minutes to go with a shot from the top of the penalty area toward the right corner that Thomas was also equal to.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute as San Diego’s Morgan Hackworth and Tacoma’s Eric Kinzner were dismissed after a scuffle between the teams following a challenge by SD Loyal’s Corey Hertzog on Thomas. But while San Diego had one more late chance as Josh Yaro turned a header on target off a cross by Hertzog in second-half stoppage time, the Defiance held firm defensively to secure all three points and keep pace with Las Vegas Lights FC and the LA Galaxy II in the race for fourth place in the Pacific Division standings.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Azriel Gonzalez, Tacoma Defiance – Gonzalez had a goal and assist for the hosts while also notching three key passes and completing 17 of 21 passes overall as Tacoma broke a three-game winless streak back on home turf.

Scoring Summary
TAC
– Azriel Gonzalez 50’
SD – Tumi Moshobane (Miguel Ibarra) 55’
TAC – Carlos Anguiano (Azriel Gonzalez) 65’

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