Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced Republic FC’s Douglas Martínez Jr., Rodrigo Lopez, and Ferrety Sousa were named to the Week 1 USL Championship Team of the Week for their performance during the club’s 3-1 win over El Paso Locomotive FC in the season opener on March 12.
Martínez netted the eventual game-winner for Republic FC with five minutes remaining. The Honduran striker finished the night with two shots, 12 duels won, and one assist on Keko Gontan’s 90th minute score. Sousa was excellent on the backline, finishing Saturday second on the squad in clearances (4), interceptions (3), and passing accuracy (83%). He also tallied his first assist on the season, sending a well-placed long ball ahead to Martínez for the forward’s goal in the 85th minute.
Lopez was named to Team of the Week for his performance in Republic FC’s midfield. Sacramento’s captain got his club on the board just before the break, converting a penalty for his 30th career score in USL Championship play. He finished the contest successful in 9 of 13 duels, and second on the squad in completed passes (26).
The selection is the seventh all-time for Martínez, first for Sousa, and 14th for Lopez. Martínez previously earned the honor six times during the 2019 season with Real Monarchs SLC, and Lopez previously earned 9 selections in his first stint with Sacramento, and four last year with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.
Republic FC is back in action this weekend when the club heads south for their second match of the season against San Diego Loyal SC. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. from Torero Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, on FOX40.com and the FOX 40 App, and streamed live on ESPN+.
