SACRAMENTO – Adversity appears in many forms. They say the perseverance through it builds character. For Republic FC, a mid-August rematch against a Tacoma Defiance club that stormed back to tie their last meeting at 3-3 on the 13th of July seemed like the perfect opportunity to rise to the occasion.
Recall, however, that we remain deep in the throes of an uncontrolled global pandemic. Coronavirus safety protocols remain in place. Dry conditions have caused a statewide drought to continue; still, the pitch is adequately watered. Unfortunately, The August 15th rematch between these clubs had an added adverse factor – extreme heat! Temperatures were as high as 110 F throughout the day, and only dropped to 104 F at kickoff. Sundown brought little relief. When the match ended, it was still 100 F!
Apart from the heat and the rematch drama, this match was special because it marked the 100th USL start for Republic FC’s Cameron Iwasa. He entered with 49 career goals and was looking for his 50th score. More on that later. Once play began, the boys in red wasted no time notching their first score. Dariusz Formella found the back of the net early in the 14th minute. He went on to notch another goal in the 41st minute, securing his second brace of the season, both against Tacoma.
Shortly before Formella’s second goal, however, Cameron Iwasa got his 50th career goal (33’) thanks to a brilliantly unselfish pass from Villyan Bijev who got a much-deserved assist for his effort.
Heading into halftime up 3-0, Republic FC appeared unfazed by the unfortunate loss of keeper Adam Grinwis to a season-ending ACL tear. Whether Sacramento will add another keeper to the roster remains unknown, but backup keeper Rafael Diaz did an excellent job and is securely in the starting XI.
Early in the second half, Tacoma would finally make a mark on the scoreboard due to a goal by Sam Rogers (50’), but that’s all they could muster. Sacramento’s backline would hold strong for the rest of the match, securing 3 points for their effort and remaining atop the group standings.
It must also be noted that Rodrigo Lopez had another all-star-worthy performance, and Sam Werner made several strong advances toward the goal. He did not score, but he very well may have given even one more chance before the final whistle. FT Sacramento Republic FC 3 – 1 Tacoma Defiance.
Sacramento hosts Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday, August 22 at Papa Murphy’s Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm Pacific. It will be broadcast live on KQCA My58, Estrella TV, and through ESPN+. Adding to the adversity this week will be significant smoke pollution from the deadly fires burning throughout the region.
Given all the adversity facing the community and the region, it is fair to say Republic FC has incredible depth of character. In fact, Rodrigo Lopez has come forward to offer his assistance to people in need. This remarkable showing of generosity underscores what fans have come to know and expect from this club. They truly are Sacramento proud, and they truly are an indomitable force for good.
One final note: American Presswire is no stranger to adversity during this time. We are deeply saddened to report the tragic loss of brilliant photographer Jerry Imboden. Jerry covered the San Joe Earthquakes, Stanford University football, and NCAA Pacific-12 Conference post-season bowl games. Jerry will be missed, and we salute his many lifetime accomplishments behind the lens and in all areas of life.
Additionally, photographer Tom Corno, who covers the Seattle Sounders, was in a serious accident and is recovering at home, and photographer Jamie Castaneda (MLS and Australian A-League) was also in a serious accident and remains hospitalized. We wish them both speedy recoveries.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for over a decade, and has been covering professional soccer, and Sacramento Republic FC, since their debut in 2014. All images taken by Ahsan Awan for American Presswire and ©2020 American Presswire. He can be found on Twitter as @quackarazzi and on Instagram as @quackarazzi.