SEATTLE, WA — It was a battle of two heavyweights at Memorial Stadium in Seattle on Saturday night. Seattle-based USL Two side Ballard FC fell 4-3 to their divisional rivals, the Tacoma Stars, in a highly contested bout.
Before the match started, Memorial Stadium was buzzing with anticipation. Situated at
the heels of the Space Needle, Ballard FC’s temporary home pitch was the place to be.
Though the team and its supporters were not at the friendly confines of Interbay
Stadium, the incredible atmosphere was still present. Flags waving, horns blasting, it
was all there as a raucous backdrop for an unbelievable match.
Coming into the match, both teams sat atop of the USL 2 Northwest division. Ballard FC
came in with 10 points (3W-0L-1D) and the Tacoma Stars with 11 points (3W-0L-2D).
The last time these two sides met, it ended in a 2-2 draw back on May 19th . Surely, this
match was primed to be unforgettable.
Dakota Grim / Area Sports Network
The scoring got underway in the 13th minute as Ballard FC took a 1-0 lead off a
disastrous own goal by the Tacoma Stars. The play was initiated by Ballard FC’s Richie
Aman as he made a long, positive run into the box. He then made a good combination
play with center forward Austin Brummett, causing a Tacoma Stars defender to take an
awkward touch towards his own goal. Attempting to clear the ball, he ended up putting
the ball in the back of his own net.
The miscues continued for the Tacoma Stars in the 36th minute when, attempting to play
the ball out of their own half off a goal kick, they committed a costly turnover that
allowed Ballard FC midfielder Juan Alvarez to bury the ball for a 2-0 Ballard FC lead.
Regarding the goal, he stated after the game, “Their center back is vulnerable because
he is not left footed, so I just hopped on the chance, and I got lucky. We capitalized on
the opportunity.”
The Tacoma Stars would not go into the half without a fight, however. In the 45th minute,
captain midfielder Richard-Miguel Lapointe-Guevara unleashed a scorcher from outside
the box into the bottom right corner of the net to get the Tacoma Stars within one goal.
Ballard FC began the second half in a ferocious way as they applied pressure on the
Tacoma Stars early. Unfortunately for Ballard FC, no goal came to fruition and their lead
did not grow. Rather, the game became level in the 70th minute. Thanks to an ill-fated
back pass that split a couple of Ballard FC defenders, Tacoma Stars’ Charlie Kosakoff
found himself charging the goal with the ball in his possession. Right as Ballard FC
defender Christian Engmann began to close out on him, Kosakoff took the shot and scored.
Dakota Grim / Area Sports Network
A mere four minutes later, Kosakoff found himself open on the right side of the
box. He took a well-struck shot and gave the Tacoma Stars a 3-2 lead.
At this point, the roar of the travelling supporters became loud and clear, and the Ballard
FC supporters sat in stunned silence. Such silence was not long though because a
minute after going down a goal, Ballard FC drew level. Midfielder Cameron Cruz
delivered a low and precise ball across the face of goal that found Charlie Gaffney, who
tapped it into the net. The game was now tied 3-3 and the excitement was palpable.
Ballard FC head coach James Riley felt it was well, “For a regular season game, it had
the intensity of a playoff-like atmosphere.”
Things grew sour for Ballard FC late in second half stoppage time when the Tacoma
Stars were awarded a penalty. Christian Engmann was whistled for a handball in the
box for which he was given a yellow. After much pleading with the head official, the call
remained the same. The fate of the game would be decided from twelve yards out.
Sitting on a hat trick, Charlie Kosakoff stepped up to take the deciding kick. After a
relatively long run up, he slotted the ball into the right upper corner of the goal to
complete his hat trick and give the visitors the 4-3 victory.
This result gives Ballard FC their first loss of the season. Coach James Riley remained
positive despite the result, “Fantastic match. You can’t ask for a better match. You have
two very quality teams. Obviously, we would like to be on the other side of it but it is
what it is. We’ll battle, we’ll compete. Win, lose or draw, we’ll celebrate our fans, we’ll
celebrate the game, and we’ll get back to the drawing board.”
Coach James Riley’s side will have an opportunity to bounce back next Friday, June 14th
as they head down to Eugene, Oregon to take on Lane United FC.
Cover Photo: Dakota Grim / Area Sports Network
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