Earlier today, U.S. Soccer Conducted the Third Round Draw for the 107th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The draw placed the tournament’s second round victors – two open division squads, two MLS NEXT Pro sides, four National Independent Soccer Association clubs, eight teams from USL League One, and 15 winners from the USL Championship – with the 17 MLS clubs entering this stage of the tournament.
In a rematch of the two clubs’ preseason exhibition in February, Republic FC was drawn a third round matchup with USL League One side Central Valley Fuego FC, which will take place on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Heart Health Park. Prior to the draw, Republic FC was grouped in the Northern California region alongside three other clubs – San Jose Earthquakes, Central Valley Fuego FC, and Bay Cities FC, who upset USL Championship club Monterey Bay FC in the second round. Bay Cities FC was drawn to visit San Jose Earthquakes, and will face the MLS Club at PayPal Park.
Republic FC’s matchup with Fuego FC will feature some historical ties, as three Fuego FC players – Villyan Bijev, Christian Cheney, and Julian Chavez, each previously featured for the Indomitable Club. This will also be the third all-time Open Cup matchup between Sacramento and a Fresno-based squad, the previous two coming against Fresno Fuego in 2014 and Fresno FC in 2019, both Third Round wins for Sacramento.
Republic FC has reached the third round of the tournament in all but one of its six previous entries, and won its third round match to advance five times. Sacramento last reached the fourth round in 2019, falling 4-3 to San Jose Earthquakes.
