AUSTIN, Texas – Omar Gordon marked his 100th USL Championship regular season appearance with the only goal of the game as Austin Bold FC took a 1-0 victory against Tacoma Defiance on Wednesday night at Bold Stadium that moved the hosts back into the playoff positions in the Mountain Division at the end of the night’s action.

Chances proved few in the first half for both sides, but Tacoma almost grabbed the lead in the 13th minute when a good knock-back from the left side of the penalty area by Marlon Vargas set up a chance for Alec Diaz that was blocked away by Austin center back Jermaine Taylor. Diaz carved out another chance seven minutes before halftime as he dribbled past Taylor to his right but had a low shot turned away by goalkeeper Elliot Panicco.

Gordon had the first half-chance for the hosts in the 39th minute as he sent a looping header from just inside the top of the penalty area over the crossbar off a deliver by Xavi Baez from the right. Alasanne Ates Diouf had a chance as well 10 minutes into the second half as Tacoma goalkeeper Christian Herrera half-cleared as he challenged Beto Avila on a ball into the penalty area, and then recovered to make a kick-save on Diouf’s first-time follow up from 25 yards.

Diouf went closer a minute later as off a corner kick by Collin Fernandez on the right the forward headed off the left post and caromed away to safety. Just past the hour-mark, though, Gordon found the breakthrough as Fernandez played him a pass just inside the top-right edge of the penalty area and he cut inside onto his left foot and slotted a low shot to the far corner of the net.

The Defiance didn’t have many clear chances to level in the final half-hour, but in second-half stoppage time the visitors thought they had found an equalizer as Diaz ran onto a flicked pass by Samuel Adeniran and fired into the left corner of the net. The offside flag was raised, however, denying the goal and ensuring that Bold FC would walk away with another kick victory to their playoff hopes.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Omar Gordon, Austin Bold FC – Gordon scored the only goal of the game and had four shots overall while completing 17 of 21 passes and winning 9 of 17 duels to lift his side to a crucial three points.

Scoring Summary
ATX – Omar Gordon (Collin Fernandez) 61’

Full Box Score