MATCH RECAP: Tacoma Defiance Austin FC II 3-1 in Season Opener | Tacoma Defiance

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Tacoma Defiance defeated Austin FC II 3-1 in the opening match of its 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign. Stuart Hawkins, Faysal Bettache and Gio Miglietti all scored Tacoma, as the club knocked off the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champion at Parmer Field.

After Austin’s Sebastian Pineau saw his second yellow and was sent off early in the second half, Hawkins scored in the 67^th minute, getting his head on a rebounded shot and redirecting it into the back of the net. Bettache doubled Tacoma’s lead in the 75^th minute, receiving a ball from Georgi Minoungou at the top of the area and lacing a left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal.

After Austin pulled one back in the 83^rd minute, Miglietti iced the match in second-half stoppage time, finishing a pass from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi past the outstretched leg of Austin’s Marcus Alstrup.

Following the result, Tacoma returns to Starfire Stadium next week for its home opener against Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday, March 24 (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).

Tacoma Defiance 3 – Austin FC II 1

Assistants: Bill Bolsen, Jason Guillen

Fourth official: Sean Caouette

Weather: 65 degrees and mostly cloudy

TAC – Stuart Hawkins 67’

TAC – Faysal Bettache (Georgi Minoungou) 75’

ATX – Bryan Arellano 83’

TAC – Gio Miglietti (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi) 90+4’

ATX – Alonso Ramírez (caution) 32’

ATX – Sebastien Pineau (caution) 48’

TAC – Stuart Hawkins (caution) 49’

ATX – Sebastien Pineau (ejection) 52’

ATX – Micah Burton (caution) 70’

TAC – Owen O’Malley (caution) 77’

ATX – Steeve Louis Jean (caution) 90+7’

Tacoma Defiance – Lars Helleren; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Antino Lopez, Stuart Hawkins, Travian Sousa; Frank Daroma, Sota Kitahara (Owen O’Malley 64’); Burke Fahling, Faysal Bettache – captain, Georgi Minoungou (Gio Miglietti 77’); Yu Tsukanome (Elias Katsaros 85’)

Substitutes not used: Trevor Wilson, Pedro, Chris Aquino, Sebastian Gomez

Austin FC II – Marcus Alstrup; Steeve Louis Jean, Antonio Gomez, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Anthony De Anda; Alonso Ramírez, Micah Burton, Bryan Arellano (Christopher Garcia 84’); Anthony Garcia (Jonathan Santillian 64’), Sébastien Pineau, CJ Fodrey

Substitutes not used: Aaron Cervantes, Joah Reyna, Luke Spadafora, Mason Miller, Drake Fournier, Gavin Wolff