A foe new to Heart Health Park touches down in the Capitol City this week. Birmingham Legion FC, one of the top clubs in the Eastern Conference since their 2019 debut in USL comes to town for the very first time on their first-ever trip to California. The match pits Sacramento against a squad much like their own, which should create for a tight, well played contest as each side looks to regain the strong form they showed in June.
The squad’s ready for the challenges the Alabama side is likely to bring – they’re a very organized team with some big-time weapons Sacramento will need to account for. Obviously, with the pair being in opposite conferences there isn’t much history to pull from, but that isn’t keeping the Indomitable Club from being as prepared as they possibly can.
“It’s going to be a difficult game,” said Mark Briggs on Thursday. “They [Birmingham] are well coached and a team we can’t take lightly. We have to fully understand what we don’t want to give them.”
A win against Legion would be big for the club as the prep for a busy schedule to close out July. After this week, Sacramento stares down one of their toughest stretches on the schedule this year, including the Open Cup semifinal. To take three, a strong effort will be required, and the club knows it as no rewarding task is ever easy.
“These are always important points,” said Matt LaGrassa. “I think they [games] are all important right now and we want to start building momentum toward a lot of things we have coming up, and get on back on the right track of winning games at home.
“It’s about making sure we’re ruthless and have that killer edge as a team and as a group, we keep the ball out of our own net and put the ball in the opposition’s,” Briggs continued.
A victory also keeps Sacramento unbeaten at home this season – one of their biggest goals entering the year. Republic FC enters the match as the last club unbeaten on home turf this season, and they narrowly avoided defeat with a thrilling last-second equalizer against Oakland Roots SC last weekend. With the State Fair in the background and the environment it provides, the club feels like they have a good chance to continue the streak.
“We haven’t lost at home this season and we’re very proud of that,” said LaGrassa. “We’re a team that’s not going to quit and will fight until the very last play.”
“I think every team wants to be undefeated at home. If you can win your home games, you’ve got a good chance of staying high in the league [standings],” said Nick Ross. “We have the fans behind us, and it makes a big difference.”
