St Louis CITY2 narrowly won its second game of the season after defeating Tacoma Defiance 4-3 at St. Louis University Hermann Stadium Sunday evening.
An own goal from defender Joshua Yaro in the 12th minute gave the visiting side the lead, but St Louis CITY2 replied with four goals to secure all three points and its second win of the season.
The Defiance lead was short-lived as CITY2 defender Akil Watts tied the game at 1-1 after he blasted a curling effort to cap off a rapid counter attack. The home side made it 2-1 in the 36th minute courtesy of a dynamic solo run on the left wing from forward Celio Pompeu. A headed goal from midfielder AJ Palazzolo in the 68th minute and a right-footed effort two minutes later from midfielder Max Schneider made it 4-1.
The visitors cut CITY2’s lead to one goal after forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez buried a close-range header in the 78th minute and midfielder Sota Kitahara scored 10 minutes later. But CITY2’s relentless offensive pressure held Tacoma at bay.
With the win, CITY2 remain perfect with two wins in two games as it sits third in the Western Conference. As for Tacoma Defiance, the loss marks its first defeat of the season following its shootout loss last week.
The second half of the game between St Louis CITY2 and Tacoma Defiance saw both sides score two goals each with the visitors nearly completing a miraculous comeback.
CITY2’s frontline lit up the pitch as Pompeu scored and assisted a goal, while forward Josh Dolling finished with two assists on the night.
Tacoma Defiance was down 4-1 with 20 minutes remaining, but Kitahara led the charge for the visitors as he scored and assisted his team’s last two goals. Ocampo-Chavez was on the end of Kitahara’s assist and his strike marked a league-leading 4th goal in three games for the forward.
