A thrilling ending in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday gives the Indomitable club a full head of steam going into their next match, a league meeting with Rio Grande Valley FC on the road. The contest is Sacramento’s first trip away from the Golden State this season, and an opportunity to claim points in their fourth straight USL Championship contest.
At a Glance: SACvRGV
- Saturday, April 23
- 5:30 p.m. PT kickoff
- H-E-B Park, Edinburgh, Texas
- How to watch: English and Spanish broadcasts available on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, streaming on ESPN+
Republic FC – The Latest
Saturday’s match will test Mark Briggs’ men – It’ll be the third time they see action in seven days, the first stretch of its kind this season. However, the depth of the club’s roster suggests that challenge may be a non-factor, as those the club has waiting in the wings have already proven capable of impacting the game no matter what’s asked of them. It’s possible a few different faces could see minutes and the contest could be a full-squad effort.
Since April began, Republic FC has emerged as one of the top offensive manufacturing teams in the Western Conference. Wednesday’s match saw the club tally 16 set piece opportunities, 23 shots, and take possession 12 times in the final third. Rodrigo Lopez has led that charge by creating 13 chances – tied for eighth in all of USL.
Know Your Opponent
Even though the Toros enter the contest below the playoff line, they’ve performed far from poorly. Each of the Texas club’s matches this season has been decided by just one score, including a pair against strong squads in Orange County and San Antonio. A March 23 meeting with their northern rivals saw them perform as the better squad in the second half, but poor luck resulted in just 1 of their nine shots go on target – and they’ve struggled to convert since, scoring just twice across both of their matches since.
It’ll be a good matchup on the Toros defensive end, as the club enters Saturday as one of just four Western Conference clubs with multiple clean sheets. Sacramento’s put heavy pressure on every opponent they’ve faced, and RGV shut out a Red Bulls team last week that plays a very aggressive, high press style.
Head to Head
Saturday will be the 10th all-time meeting between Sacramento and the Toros. In those ten meetings, Sacramento’s dropped points just once – on a stoppage time winner back in 2019. The club did avenge that result later in the season, defeating the South Texas side 2-1 in September of that year on an 81st minute score from Darek Formella.
Republic FC has taken five wins, one loss, and three draws in the all-time fixture, and just one of the two clubs’ nine previous results has been decided by more than one score.
