The Round of 32 of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup is here, pitting Republic FC against USL Western Conference rival Phoenix Rising FC in what’s sure to be an eventful contest. Both clubs are coming off of big wins in league play, so their 20th all-time meeting should be a good one as each looks to continue their journey to domestic glory.
At a Glance: #SACvPHX
- Wednesday, May 11
- 7:30 PM kickoff
- Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
- How to watch: ESPN+
- Tickets
The Latest – Republic FC
Sacramento broke through this past week – following a pair of tough draws, Sacramento grabbed a win for the first time since their last Open Cup contest on April 20. After threatening throughout the match, things swung the club’s way after Mark Briggs made a few second half changes that put New York Red Bulls II on their heels.
Attention now turns to the last of four matches in 12 days going back to April 30 – possibly Sacramento’s toughest stretch of the season. Some may view the time crunch to get recovered and prepare as a challenge, but the tournament setting of Wednesday’s contest should give the club a boost to keep them energized. Knowing that a winner must be decided to move on will keep the squad focused on pulling out a result in front of their home fans.
Know Your Opponent
Phoenix possesses similar momentum coming into the contest. Saturday, they took down a strong San Antonio side fighting for first in the table, scoring twice in the first half and holding their opponents scoreless on 25 shots. They have conceded a number of close-range opportunities in recent weeks, which could benefit Sacramento especially if they are able to connect passes up top.
Rising FC has remained a dangerous team. They enter the match ranked 5th in USL in shots, and continue to manufacture as well as any squad behind the efforts of Aodhan Quinn, offseason acquisition Marcus Epps, and Arturo Rodriguez. Their win over San Antonio was fueled by a Greg Hurst brace, but that aside, every contest has been a full-squad effort.
Head to Head History
Wednesday marks the 20th match all time between Republic FC and Phoenix and their first in Open Cup play. The Arizona side has been tough on Sacramento since the start of 2018, a span that’s seen Sacramento take three points just one time. However, the eight meetings since have all been decided by one score – including Sacramento’s heartbreaking 2020 extra-time playoff exit.
The all time fixture is dead even, with each club taking six wins, six losses, and seven draws. Luck has been better for Sacramento at home, where they hold a record of 3-2-4.
