Sacramento Republic FC plays its second consecutive match against a regional rival this Saturday – taking to the Bay Area for a league matchup with Oakland Roots SC. It’s the first of three contests between the two clubs this season and should make for an eventful evening as each look to inch up the table.
At a Glance: SACvOAK
- Saturday, May 28
- 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff
- Laney College Football Stadium, Oakland, California
- How to watch: English and Spanish broadcasts available on Antenna 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, streaming on ESPN+
Republic FC – The Latest
Saturday’s match gives Sacramento an opportunity to take wins over all three Northern California opponents on its schedule this season – the club beat Monterey Bay FC on April 2 and defeated San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday in a thrilling upset in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
Republic FC will take to the Bay Area without the services of striker Douglas Martinez, who will be serving a suspension for his sendoff in El Paso on May 18. However, the club is well equipped to fill in the space he leaves with Maalique Foster back from injury and Zeiko Lewis finding form. And, another excellent defensive effort seems imminent on the heels of keeping a San Jose offense with a number of talented offensive players scoreless.
Opponent Report
After a tough stretch of four matches that saw the club split points three times, Oakland got back in the win column last week, defeating LA Galaxy II 1-0. Paired with Saturday being their second straight home contest, they’ll be plenty comfortable and ready to make a statement in their second regional derby of the season.
On the attack, they’ll send out a face familiar to Republic FC fans in the contest – striker Darek Formella, who featured for the club from 2019 through last season. Thus far in 2022, he’s netted two scores and worked well to provide space for Magnus Karlsson, who leads all of USL with seven goals on the season. Their combined production has allowed Roots SC to enter eighth in the Western Conference in scoring, and convert their chances at a 19% clip.
Defensively, the club will have to work just a tad harder. Goalkeeper Benny Diaz will miss the match to serve a red card suspension for a sendoff against Los Dos on May 21.
Head to Head
Saturday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Sacramento and Oakland. Last season, Republic FC and Roots drew three times – twice without a score – before falling at Laney College in the two squads final matchup.
