SACRAMENTO – Republic FC currently sits alone in fourth place in the west. They could move up to third with the combination of a win on Saturday versus Oakland Roots SC and a loss or tie by the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, whom they defeated 3-0 at home just over a week ago.
After beating MLS side Sporting KC in the semifinals of the US Open Cup, Sacramento channeled their energy forward, traveled to Charleston, SC and logged an impressive 4-2 victory on the road. Then they beat New Mexico on the road 2-1. Then they tied Rio Grande Valley 1-1 at home, and fatigue began to set in.
What happened next was a surprising 1-0 road loss to Monterey Bay. With starters resting, however, it’s difficult to point to this as being a moment of breakdown. No team wants to lose, but perhaps the boys in old glory red had one worth sacrificing to pace themselves.
Pace themselves for what, you may wonder. The obvious! Sacramento will travel to play MLS side Orlando City SC on the road, in Orlando, in the US Open Cup final scheduled for September 7, and that match is SOLD OUT. Perhaps feeling the pressure and exhibiting both respect and concern for their opponent, Orlando successfully petitioned MLS to postpone their originally scheduled match against in-state rival Inter-Miami CF just a few days before.
In contrast, Sacramento has taken a different approach. After the strong showing against Colorado Springs just over a week ago, the club fell 2-1 to Las Vegas on the road. Again, resting parts of the starter rotation likely in preparation for Orlando, but also perhaps realizing that once again, there was room to absorb a road loss without jeopardizing the USL playoffs.
So here we are, fierce rival Oakland coming to Heart Health Park on Saturday, August 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 PM Pacific. A win, coupled with a Switchbacks loss, would elevate Republic FC into third place in the west. Moving into third would be good. Getting above that may be a bit more complicated. Leave that conversation for another time. The Roots are up next, and then something interesting happens.
Before Sacramento travels to Orlando for their September 7 contest, the club faces Louisville City FC, the leader of USL’s east division, on the road. That match will take place on Saturday, September 3 at 4:30 PM Pacific. A win there would be fantastic, but its certainly not expected. What is likely is for Sacramento to field reserves and keep the starters out. Unlike Orlando, Sacramento is choosing to play on and play through. They may surprise everyone, but odds favor a road loss.
That said, a win this Saturday versus Oakland could be strategically critical to Republic FC positioning to secure home field for a first-round playoff match later this Fall. After Orlando, the club has only seven matches remaining in USL play. Five of those are at home. Two are on the road, and two are versus the clubs sitting above them, San Antonio, and San Diego. To say fans must hang on to their seats until the very end this season is an understatement.
Sacramento’s next match is August 27 versus USL Championship side Oakland Roots SC. The match will be played at Sacramento’s Heart health Park at 8:00 PM PST. The club plays MLS side Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final on Wednesday, September 7 at 5:00 PM PST. Broadcast details are pending.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for over a decade, and has been covering professional soccer, including USL and Sacramento Republic FC, since their debut in 2014. All images taken by Ahsan Awan for American Presswire and ©2022 Ahsan Awan for American Presswire subject to unlimited use under license unless otherwise noted. He can be found on Twitter as @quackarazzi and on Instagram as @quackarazzi.