Republic FC took another positive step closer towards solidifying a playoff spot following Saturday's 3-3 draw at home against Reno 1868 FC.
Before the squad starts focusing on Tacoma Defiance next weekend, it's time to see what the squad had to say following the result against the Indomitable Club's regional rival.
Republic FC took another positive step closer towards solidifying a playoff spot following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at home against Reno 1868 FC.
Before the squad starts focusing on Tacoma Defiance next weekend, it’s time to see what the squad had to say following the result against the Indomitable Club’s regional rival.
Head Coach Mark Briggs
On Kharlton Belmar's performance…
"I thought he was fantastic for us Wednesday night when he came in the second half and he carried on the momentum from Wednesday into tonight. I thought he was brilliant from start to finish. He did everything that you want out of your number nine. I just wish he could have got that goal in the first half when he had that opportunity and deflected just wide of the goal. I was really pleased for him. He was fantastic."
On the post match speech to the players…
"I told them the schedule and said I would see them in a couple of days. They played well, we were the better team. But we have to learn. It's not good enough to keep saying next time, next time, no there's not a next time. There's that 90 minutes and we should have won the game. But we gave two points away. And instead of walking away with three points we walk away with one point. So I chose not to speak to the guys. They need to learn. This hurts. I'm furious."
On the match atmosphere…
"It’s passionate. It’s two teams that are rivals. It's two teams that are very good teams. It's two teams that play football the correct way. It's two teams that want to win. So, these games are going to be chippier, these games are gonna be aggressive, these games mean a lot to people. So I didn't expect any different to what we saw out there. I thought it could have been managed much better. But I was not surprised by the intensity and the aggression."
Head Coach Mark Briggs
On Kharlton Belmar’s performance…
“I thought he was fantastic for us Wednesday night when he came in the second half and he carried on the momentum from Wednesday into tonight. I thought he was brilliant from start to finish. He did everything that you want out of your number nine. I just wish he could have got that goal in the first half when he had that opportunity and deflected just wide of the goal. I was really pleased for him. He was fantastic.”
On the post match speech to the players…
“I told them the schedule and said I would see them in a couple of days. They played well, we were the better team. But we have to learn. It’s not good enough to keep saying next time, next time, no there’s not a next time. There’s that 90 minutes and we should have won the game. But we gave two points away. And instead of walking away with three points we walk away with one point. So I chose not to speak to the guys. They need to learn. This hurts. I’m furious.”
On the match atmosphere…
“It’s passionate. It’s two teams that are rivals. It’s two teams that are very good teams. It’s two teams that play football the correct way. It’s two teams that want to win. So, these games are going to be chippier, these games are gonna be aggressive, these games mean a lot to people. So I didn’t expect any different to what we saw out there. I thought it could have been managed much better. But I was not surprised by the intensity and the aggression.”
Kharlton Belmar
On tonight’s result…
“Tough one tonight. I think we played really well. We unfortunately gave up a goal really early, but I think all year we've shown the grit and the attitude to come back when we face adversity and enemies, we showed it again tonight. And we dug deep, just gutted right now because we should have won that game. That game was all ours and just mental lapses and we kind of let it slip but a point is a point and we move on to next week.”
On learning from tonight’s game…
“I think we just had to play out the whole game. We've done very well to make it to the 95th minute and we slip up with a couple of seconds left and give the game away. I think it's about playing all the way through and playing to the final whistle and staying engaged all the way through and make sure we close things out. I think there was a couple mistakes here and there throughout the game where I don't think we should have given up a goal tonight but things happen and like coach has said and we've been saying all year you just got to continue to learn from these things and continue to try and make progress and we will do that.”
On playing up front…
“To be honest I feel comfortable in any of those spots. Tonight was a good night up there and some days it's going to work and then some days it's not but, I feel comfortable with wherever Mark puts me and I trust him and trust the guys around me to try and do my best and help them out and tonight I was able to contribute with a couple assists. I feel comfortable in any one of those spots so wherever they put me I'm going to try and do my best and help the team.”
Kharlton Belmar
On tonight’s result…
“Tough one tonight. I think we played really well. We unfortunately gave up a goal really early, but I think all year we’ve shown the grit and the attitude to come back when we face adversity and enemies, we showed it again tonight. And we dug deep, just gutted right now because we should have won that game. That game was all ours and just mental lapses and we kind of let it slip but a point is a point and we move on to next week.”
On learning from tonight’s game…
“I think we just had to play out the whole game. We’ve done very well to make it to the 95th minute and we slip up with a couple of seconds left and give the game away. I think it’s about playing all the way through and playing to the final whistle and staying engaged all the way through and make sure we close things out. I think there was a couple mistakes here and there throughout the game where I don’t think we should have given up a goal tonight but things happen and like coach has said and we’ve been saying all year you just got to continue to learn from these things and continue to try and make progress and we will do that.”
On playing up front…
“To be honest I feel comfortable in any of those spots. Tonight was a good night up there and some days it’s going to work and then some days it’s not but, I feel comfortable with wherever Mark puts me and I trust him and trust the guys around me to try and do my best and help them out and tonight I was able to contribute with a couple assists. I feel comfortable in any one of those spots so wherever they put me I’m going to try and do my best and help the team.”
