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Matchday Preview: San Diego Loyal SC vs. Tacoma Defiance

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/19/21, 9:07AM EDT

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San Diego welcomes Tacoma for final meeting of the season hoping to avoid sweep at Torero Stadium


San Diego Loyal SC will try to avoid a season sweep at the hands of Tacoma Defiance on Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium after having fallen in each of the prior three meetings between the sides this campaign. | Photo courtesy San Diego Loyal SC

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC will play host to Tacoma Defiance on Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium with the hosts looking to build on a three-game undefeated streak as they face a Tacoma side that is looking to rebound from a midweek setback, but that has had SD Loyal’s number so far this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

@SanDiegoLoyal (10-9-4, 34pts) played to a 0-0 draw with Oakland Roots SC last Saturday night in its most recent outing to remain in second place in the USL Championship’s Pacific Division. Goalkeeper Austin Guerrero recorded a three-save shutout for the visitors, his third of the season, continuing a solid run of form since he took over the starting role permanently following an injury to Trey Muse. A local standout who competed in Mexico and Panama earlier in his career, Guerrero has a 1.00 goals-against average in eight appearances and a 72.4 save percentage going into Sunday’s game. San Diego will be hoping to turn its fortunes around against Tacoma on Sunday, however, having suffered defeat in each of their prior three meetings this campaign, including a 2-1 loss on August 14 at Torero Stadium when the sides last met when the visitors rallied in the second half to take victory.

@TacDefiance (8-7-6, 30pts) would close a four-point gap currently separating itself and SD Loyal in the Pacific Division standings if it can complete a season sweep, but the side is also in need of a win after falling 3-1 on Wednesday night against Oakland Roots SC that added to the intrigue in the current playoff race in the Pacific Division overall. The Defiance got into the weekend with a game in hand on Oakland but now only three points ahead in the standings after a standout finish by Ray Serrano was all the side could muster offensively at Las Positas College. With two games in hand on both San Diego and Orange County SC, the door remains open for Tacoma to move into second place by the end of the season if results fall the club’s way, and the side will be hoping it can muster another strong performance on Sunday as it tries to break a two-game losing streak overall.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: San Diego Loyal SC 53%, Tacoma Defiance 21%, Draw 26%

Most Recent Lineups

San Diego Loyal SC (4-2-3-1): Austin Guerrero; Oliver Larraz, Grant Stoneman, Josh Yaro, Elijah Martin; Collin Martin, Charlie Adams; Tumi Moshobane, Corey Hertzog, Douglas Martinez; Augustine Williams

Tacoma Defiance (3-4-3): Christian Herrera; Jackson Ragen, Tom Brewitt, Eric Kinzner; Ethan Dobbelaere, Carlos Anguiano, Danny Robles, Alex Villanueva; Ray Serrano, Samuel Adeniran, Marlon Vargas

Discipline

San Diego Loyal SC – None

Tacoma Defiance – None

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