Republic FC wasted no time at all settling into a rhythm against Portland Timbers 2, finding their first goal in just the 4th minute. Midfielder Danny Barrera had the ball near the top right side of the box before picking out a streaking Tommy Thompson on the left side of the box. Barrera sent a looping cross to Thompson who jumped to head the ball back toward the middle where defender Mike da Fonte was making an unmarked run. da Fonte’s ensuing header beat the onrushing T2 keeper Wade Hamilton and went into the net giving Republic FC the early 1-0 lead.
T2 responded to Republic FC’s early goal with a flurry of their own chances, the best of which came in the 6th minute. Forward Augustine Williams broke free down the center of the pitch, setting up a one-on-one with Republic FC goalkeeper Evan Newton. Newton blocked Williams’ attempt with a slide but the ball fell to the feet of Neco Brett who took a shot on a seemingly empty net, but Republic FC midfielder JJ Koval had tracked back and made a foot save at the goal line to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Republic FC would strike again just before halftime. This time is was Barrera playing a long ball to Cameron Iwasa who had beat the T2 offside trap. Iwasa went one-on-one with Hamilton who went into a slide deflecting Iwasa’s low shot back at the forward. The ball ricocheted off Iwasa and back toward an empty net. Iwasa followed his shot and chested the ball into the net, giving Republic FC the 2-0 halftime lead. With the goal Iwasa became the third Republic FC player to record at least 10 goals in a season. Forward Thomas Stewart scored 11 in 2014 and midfielder Rodrigo Lopez scored 10 in both 2014 and 2015.
Republic FC wasted no time at all settling into a rhythm against Portland Timbers 2, finding their first goal in just the 4th minute. Midfielder Danny Barrera had the ball near the top right side of the box before picking out a streaking Tommy Thompson on the left side of the box. Barrera sent a looping cross to Thompson who jumped to head the ball back toward the middle where defender Mike da Fonte was making an unmarked run. da Fonte’s ensuing header beat the onrushing T2 keeper Wade Hamilton and went into the net giving Republic FC the early 1-0 lead.
T2 responded to Republic FC’s early goal with a flurry of their own chances, the best of which came in the 6th minute. Forward Augustine Williams broke free down the center of the pitch, setting up a one-on-one with Republic FC goalkeeper Evan Newton. Newton blocked Williams’ attempt with a slide but the ball fell to the feet of Neco Brett who took a shot on a seemingly empty net, but Republic FC midfielder JJ Koval had tracked back and made a foot save at the goal line to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Republic FC would strike again just before halftime. This time is was Barrera playing a long ball to Cameron Iwasa who had beat the T2 offside trap. Iwasa went one-on-one with Hamilton who went into a slide deflecting Iwasa’s low shot back at the forward. The ball ricocheted off Iwasa and back toward an empty net. Iwasa followed his shot and chested the ball into the net, giving Republic FC the 2-0 halftime lead. With the goal Iwasa became the third Republic FC player to record at least 10 goals in a season. Forward Thomas Stewart scored 11 in 2014 and midfielder Rodrigo Lopez scored 10 in both 2014 and 2015.
Republic FC came out strong again in the second half scoring their third goal of the night in the 48th minute. This time it was Barrera finding a streaking Thompson who had beat the offside trap. Thompson jumped to settle Barrera’s lofted pass then took Hamilton on one-on-one. Thompson rounded the onrushing keeper and tapped in a short left-footed shot to give Republic FC the 3-0 lead. With the assist on Thompson’s goal, Barrera recorded his USL-leading eighth assist of the season, tying the Republic FC single-season record set by Lopez in the 2014 season.
Republic FC would add a fourth and final goal in the 82nd minute. Defender James Kiffe found substitute forward Wilson Kneeshaw, making his first appearance since signing with the club last week, as he again beat T2’s offside trap. Kneeshaw settled the pass on the left side of the box before rounding the onrushing Hamilton and finishing a right-footed shot into the goal, giving Republic FC the 4-0 victory.
This was the second consecutive match that Republic FC had recorded four goals, the first such occurrence in franchise history. The match was the third shutout of the season for Newton and the ninth shutout of the season for Republic FC, tying the number of team shutouts in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Republic FC will hit the road for a mid-week matchup against Orange County Blues FC on Wednesday, August 24. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Anteater Stadium. The match will be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL.
Republic FC came out strong again in the second half scoring their third goal of the night in the 48th minute. This time it was Barrera finding a streaking Thompson who had beat the offside trap. Thompson jumped to settle Barrera’s lofted pass then took Hamilton on one-on-one. Thompson rounded the onrushing keeper and tapped in a short left-footed shot to give Republic FC the 3-0 lead. With the assist on Thompson’s goal, Barrera recorded his USL-leading eighth assist of the season, tying the Republic FC single-season record set by Lopez in the 2014 season.
Republic FC would add a fourth and final goal in the 82nd minute. Defender James Kiffe found substitute forward Wilson Kneeshaw, making his first appearance since signing with the club last week, as he again beat T2’s offside trap. Kneeshaw settled the pass on the left side of the box before rounding the onrushing Hamilton and finishing a right-footed shot into the goal, giving Republic FC the 4-0 victory.
This was the second consecutive match that Republic FC had recorded four goals, the first such occurrence in franchise history. The match was the third shutout of the season for Newton and the ninth shutout of the season for Republic FC, tying the number of team shutouts in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Republic FC will hit the road for a mid-week matchup against Orange County Blues FC on Wednesday, August 24. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Anteater Stadium. The match will be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL.
Sacramento Republic FC 4:0 Portland Timbers 2
USL Match
Bonney Field – Sacramento, CA
August 20, 2016 – Attendance: 11,569 (sellout)
Scoring Summary: SRFC – Mike da Fonte (Tommy Thompson) 4, Cameron Iwasa 45, Tommy Thompson (Danny Barrera) 48, Wilson Kneeshaw (James Kiffe) 82.
Misconduct Summary: SRFC – Matt LaGrassa (caution) 22, Tommy Thompson (caution) 67; POR – Marco Farfan (caution) 24, Nick Besler (caution) 37.
Portland Timbers 2 – Wade Hamilton; Brent Richards, Rennico Clarke, Trevor Morley, Marco Farfan (Michael Gallagher 76); Seth Casiple (Dylan Damraoui 82), Nick Besler, Neco Brett, Blake Bodily (Victor Arboleda 65); Villyan Bijev (Ben Polk 72), Augustine Williams (Kharlton Belmar 65).
Subs Not Used: Justin Luthy; Andre Lewis.
Stats: Shots: 16, Shots on Goal: 4, Saves: 5, Fouls: 14, Corner Kicks: 4, Offside: 2.
Sacramento Republic FC – Evan Newton; Octavio Guzman (Carlos Rodriguez 84), Mike da Fonte, Chris Christian, James Kiffe; Jeremy Hall (Alfonso Motagalvan 65), JJ Koval (Wilson Kneeshaw 69), Danny Barrera, Matt LaGrassa (Mackenzie Pridham 88); Tommy Thompson (Daniel Trickett-Smith 85), Cameron Iwasa.
Subs Not Used: Dominik Jakubek; Joaquin Rivas.
Stats: Shots: 12, Shots on Goal: 9, Saves: 4, Fouls: 11, Corner Kicks: 6, Offside: 4.
Sacramento Republic FC 4:0 Portland Timbers 2
USL Match
Bonney Field – Sacramento, CA
August 20, 2016 – Attendance: 11,569 (sellout)
Scoring Summary: SRFC – Mike da Fonte (Tommy Thompson) 4, Cameron Iwasa 45, Tommy Thompson (Danny Barrera) 48, Wilson Kneeshaw (James Kiffe) 82.
Misconduct Summary: SRFC – Matt LaGrassa (caution) 22, Tommy Thompson (caution) 67; POR – Marco Farfan (caution) 24, Nick Besler (caution) 37.
Portland Timbers 2 – Wade Hamilton; Brent Richards, Rennico Clarke, Trevor Morley, Marco Farfan (Michael Gallagher 76); Seth Casiple (Dylan Damraoui 82), Nick Besler, Neco Brett, Blake Bodily (Victor Arboleda 65); Villyan Bijev (Ben Polk 72), Augustine Williams (Kharlton Belmar 65).
Subs Not Used: Justin Luthy; Andre Lewis.
Stats: Shots: 16, Shots on Goal: 4, Saves: 5, Fouls: 14, Corner Kicks: 4, Offside: 2.
Sacramento Republic FC – Evan Newton; Octavio Guzman (Carlos Rodriguez 84), Mike da Fonte, Chris Christian, James Kiffe; Jeremy Hall (Alfonso Motagalvan 65), JJ Koval (Wilson Kneeshaw 69), Danny Barrera, Matt LaGrassa (Mackenzie Pridham 88); Tommy Thompson (Daniel Trickett-Smith 85), Cameron Iwasa.
Subs Not Used: Dominik Jakubek; Joaquin Rivas.
Stats: Shots: 12, Shots on Goal: 9, Saves: 4, Fouls: 11, Corner Kicks: 6, Offside: 4.
