This week, Republic FC welcomes Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes to Heart Health Park in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. It’s the first time ever the Indomitable Club hosts the Bay Area side, and it comes in the form of an elimination match in American soccer’s longest running competition.
The all-time fixture between the two clubs – three matches in the U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015, and 2019, has generated some thrilling contests. Every single match was a tightly-contested affair that saw Sacramento score first, and see the eventual winner or a critical equalizer find the net with less than 20 minutes remaining. Ahead of Wednesday, which looks to be a similar type of match, take a look back at the two clubs’ past meetings:
June 12, 2014: SAC 1 – 2 SJ at Kezar Stadium
A mid-week matchup in Kezar Stadium went San Jose’s way in the two sides first-ever meeting. However, for the Quakes the contest was anything but comfortable. Sacramento put pressure on the hosts for the entire match, outshooting them 14-9. Three of those shots came off the foot of Rodrigo Lopez, making his second appearance against San Jose after facing them early in his career while a member of Chivas USA.
What looked to be a scoreless first half ended 1-1 as both teams went to the locker room. A Justin Braun score in the 42nd minute, assisted by forward Chad Bartlome, put Sacramento up with just moments to go in the first half. But San Jose drew a penalty just before the break, and converted on the attempt to equalize. In the 73rd minute, the hosts netted the eventual winner.
June 15, 2015: SAC 2 – 2 SJ (SAC 7:8 SJ in penalties) at PayPal Park
Just 368 days later, the two NorCal Squads again faced off in the fourth round. Sacramento traveled to the newly constructed PayPal Park for an eventual thriller between regional rivals. The Indomitable club set the tone early, taking a 1-0 lead just six minutes after the opening whistle when Rodrigo Lopez converted from the penalty spot. Sacramento took that advantage into the break, and not ten minutes after the start of the second half doubled their lead when Lopez assisted Emrah Klimenta. San Jose didn’t go down easily, however, as Chris Wondolowski scored twice in the 74th and 79th minutes to force extra time.
But 30 more minutes couldn’t decide the victor, sending the two squads to a shootout. Sacramento and San Jose traded scores in the opening two rounds, before a save apiece by Dominik Jakubek for Sacramento and Bryan Meredith for San Jose broke the streak. Each keeper would stop another attempt from their opponents, before Sacramento missed a score-or-go-home situation in the eighth round.
June 11, 2019: SAC 3 – 4 SJ at PayPal Park
The most recent meeting between the two clubs again went San Jose’s way – but the result wasn’t determined until stoppage time as the two squads traded punches throughout the contest. Each club netted two in the first half, with Sacramento’s scores coming from Sam Werner just two minutes in and a Villyan Bijev rocket at the 15 minute mark off a set piece.
Republic FC put in a stellar defensive performance to start the second half, keeping out nine opposing shots before San Jose pulled ahead in the 73rd minute. Another score from the hosts put the MLS side up two in the 91st minute of play, but Sacramento didn’t go down without a fight scoring another before the match ended 3-4 result favoring the hosts.
