Sacramento Republic FC pressured Dayton Dutch Lions FC from the start scoring their first goal of the match in just the 13th minute of the match. Midfielder Rodrigo Lopez played a great through ball that found a streaking Dakota Collins who had run behind the defense. Collins hit a jumping one-touch shot by the onrushing goalkeeper Bradley Stuver to put Republic FC up 1-0.
Republic FC did not wait long to attack again as just a minute later forward Chad Bartlomé beat his man but had his shot on goal blocked by Stuver. Republic FC would control much of the possession until Dayton found a breakaway in the 42nd minute. Forward Thomas Garner got behind Republic FC’s defense and was fouled in the box by defender Harrison Delbridge. Dayton forward, and Columbus Crew loanee, Aaron Shoenfeld stepped up and slotted the penalty shot into the upper right hand corner of the goal to even the score before half.
Republic FC came out strong in the second half after conceding the late equalizer and in the 51st minute regained the lead. Lopez played a perfect cross into the box that found a leaping Octavio Guzman who pushed a right footed shot into the lower left hand corner of the goal. The score was Guzman’s first professional goal.
Dayton seemed to come alive after the score and would constantly pressure Republic FC until the end of the match. Dayton’s best chance at an equalizer came in the 85th minute. Defender Brock Granger sent a free kick into the box where Guilherme Felix headed the ball toward goal. Felix’s shot was blocked but Garner took an uncontested shot from about 10 yards out which went just over the crossbar.
“We have strung a couple of wins together to give us momentum going forward,” Collins said after the match. “To do it on the road in games so close together shows the quality we have on the team.”
“It felt good to get my first goal and it came at a good time,” said Guzman of his first professional goal. “I’m just happy I contributed to the team and helped us come out with two big wins on a rough road trip.”
With the win Republic FC moves to 6-3-1 on the season and extended its USL PRO win streak to four matches and its overall win streak to five. The win was the fourth on the road this season bringing Republic FC into a tie with first place Orlando City for most road wins in the USL PRO. Republic FC also moves into a tie for second place with the Richmond Kickers in the USL PRO standings.
Republic FC will travel back to Sacramento and take on the Fresno Fuego in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, May 28. The match will be held at the Cosumnes River College Stadium and is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. The match will not be broadcast but updates will be made on Twitter @SacRepublicFC.
Dayton Dutch Lions FC 1:2 Sacramento Republic FC
DOC Stadium – West Carrollton, Ohio
May 25, 2014 – Attendance: 527
Scoring Summary: SRFC – Dakota Collins (Rodrigo Lopez) 13, Octavio Guzman (Rodrigo Lopez) 51; DDLFC – Aaron Schoenfeld (penalty) 44.
Misconduct Summary: SRFC – Harrison Delbridge (caution) 39, Ivan Mirkovic (caution) 84, Rodrigo Lopez (caution) 90; DDLFC Shintaro Harada (caution) 50, Kingsley Baiden (caution) 63, Jesjua Cruyff (caution) 90.
Dayton Dutch Lions FC – Bradley Stuver; Benjamin Sweat, Brock Granger, Joel DeLass, Sebastien Thuriere (Joe Broekhuizen 83); Shintaro Harada (Jesjua Angoy-Cruyff 59), Kingsley Baiden, Irakli Khudsidze (Guilherme Felix 71), Matt Walker (David Clemons 63); Aaron Shoenfeld, Thomas Garner.
Sacramento Republic FC – Dominik Jakubek; Emrah Klimenta, Mickey Daly, Harrison Delbridge, Nemanja Vukovic; Ivan Mirkovic, Octavio Guzman (Steven Evans 75), Max Alvarez (Carlos Martinez 45), Rodrigo Lopez; Dakota Collins (Justin Braun 64), Chad Bartlomé (Geroge Fochive 59).
