Our Tacoma Defiance boys just hit rock bottom, getting absolutely shut out 3-0 by the Real Monarchs in a game that felt like a painful replay of their early season struggles. This was a brutal shift, especially after they’d been playing some genuinely strong soccer and turning their season around. Now, that hard-won momentum is gone, and they’re staring down the barrel of a playoff push that just got a whole lot tougher.
First Half Fizzle, Second Half Freefall
The first half actually wasn’t terrible, at least defensively. The Defiance managed to keep a clean sheet, limiting the Monarchs to just three shots, which is solid. But let’s be real, the offense was nowhere to be found, with our guys only managing two shots themselves. It felt like both teams were just content to play it safe, passing it around the back and not really pushing the envelope. That defensive “solidity” evaporated faster than a Puget Sound fog in July when the second half started. Antonio Riquelme, the Monarchs’ maestro, carved us up, especially on set pieces. The first goal came in the 59th minute off a set piece where Felix Ewald got loose at the back post, burying his shot from inside the six-yard box. It was a kick to the gut.
Set Pieces Sank Us, Playoff Race Heats Up
The Monarchs didn’t let up. Ewald struck again off a corner kick, running in front of a marked teammate and slamming a header past Max Anchor. You could feel the air leave the stadium. The final nail in the coffin, again created by Riquelme, saw him find Lionel Djiro down the left channel, who then beat Anchor to the near post. Three goals, all conceded in the second half, all after a relatively quiet first. It’s tough to swallow, especially when this team has shown they can play so much better. Mark Bronnik tried to ignite something, getting off four shots and even a big chance late, but it wasn’t enough. Charlie Gaffney patrolled the right flank, strong on the dribble, but even his efforts couldn’t crack the Monarchs’ defense.
This loss stings, big time. Our Defiance are now just one single point above the playoff line, and to make it worse, three teams right behind them in the standings all have a game in hand. They’ve gotta bounce back, and fast. The next game is absolutely massive, and the boys need to show that this Utah nightmare was just a blip, not a sign of things to come, or that playoff bubble is going to pop for real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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