Republic FC will look to keep their recent roll going under Friday night lights this week against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – a foe they haven’t faced since 2019. The Colorado club will be hungry to turn things around after two straight losses, making Friday’s match one fans won’t want to miss as both squads give their all. Sacramento has a chance to tally its sixth straight victory, stay unbeaten since mid-May, and prove that they can continue to beat top tier competition.
Sacramento’s recent run of form has provided a jolt, as well as an expectation to win entering each and every match they play. To sweep last week’s set of fixtures specifically was quite the accomplishment, and has had a ripple effect on the squad that the coaching staff couldn’t be more thrilled about.
“It breeds confidence. The conversations the players are having amongst themselves in training now are very different than they were at the start of the year,” said Mark Briggs on Wednesday. “There’s a confidence about the group at the moment, due to results.”
Of course, Sacramento knows that they’re still in for a challenge. Colorado Springs enters the matchup second in the Western Conference, and with one of the best attacking units in USL. Even with their recent tough luck, the club will still give Republic FC a run for its money, and the Indomitable Club knows they need to stay at their best.
“We’ve got to approach the game how we approach every other one,” Briggs continued. “Attacking, they [Colorado Springs] are very sharp and have dangerous players all over the field. We’ve got to be defensively solid and understand how to exploit some of their weaknesses.”
“They’re a top team, said Jack Gurr. “It’s down to us to go over there and turn them over because if we want to win everything in the end we’re going to have to beat the best teams.”
Getting a win will rely on the squad’s strong belief in one another, something that’s been constant all season but was reinforced after last Saturday. That mindset will need to continue and stay as strong as ever both for success now, and for success later in the season when the postseason begins to occupy a place in the back of every player’s head.
“The togetherness of the squad has got us this far, we believe in each other’s quality and in whoever comes in,” Gurr said of the squad’s mindset and camaraderie. “I think it’s just stick together, do what we’ve been doing, and hopefully keep winning games. We’ve got to keep the momentum going.”
