Sacramento’s third match in eight days takes the club to the desert to face off with Las Vegas Lights FC. On the heels of a dominant performance vs. Colorado Springs at home, Republic FC will be looking to continue their climb in the table and keep alive their unbeaten streak against the Southern Nevada side.
At a Glance: #SACvLV
- Saturday, August 20
- 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff
- Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
- How to watch: English and Spanish broadcasts available on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, streaming on ESPN+
Republic FC – The Latest
A true six-pointer victory over Colorado Springs on Wednesday put the club into fourth place after a trio of first-half scores from Maalique Foster, Matt LaGrassa, and Keko. Sacramento returned to their dominant defensive ways, recording their first clean sheet in league play since July 23, and just their second since the end of June. The club will look to keep their momentum going in Las Vegas against a club that’s winless in five contests and been struggling to find the net in recent weeks.
Mark Briggs’ Men enter the match with all eyes on a positive result. If Sacramento takes their second in a row, pending other results they could continue their climb in the table. New Mexico’s loss to Memphis Wednesday allowed Sacramento to take sole possession of fourth place. Just two points back of the next club ahead of them, a win for Sacramento paired with a Colorado Springs loss to Tampa would move the Quails into third.
Know Your Opponent
Lights FC have been a streaky team in 2022. Entering Saturday, the club has claimed just three points in their previous five contests, but before then won five of six. The club’s looking for any jolt it can to stay above the playoff line, and all season have shown capable of getting hot at a moment’s notice.
Throughout the season they’ve come and gone with their offense, led by Danny Trejo – one of just 14 players in the league with double-digit scores on the season. Whether or not they’ll need to also account for Cal Jennings up top is up in the air, as the Atlanta native has been shuttled between Las Vegas and LAFC throughout the season. He featured for Lights FC and found the net in their 1-1 draw on Wednesday, but the day before, was on the bench for the parent club against DC United. Jennings has netted each of the club’s scores since July 30 and would enter with eight on the season.
Head to Head
Entering Saturday, Sacramento is 11-6-7 with 40 points in league play, while Las Vegas is 9-9-7 with 34 points. The match will be the 10th all-time contest between the two clubs dating to the latter’s USL debut in 2018, with Republic FC posting 5-1-3 record. Sacramento has found the net 15 times in the fixture, with Las Vegas scoring 10 times. Republic FC has won six consecutive matches against the Southern Nevada side going back to August 2019.
Players Only Broadcast
Saturday’s broadcasts on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app will feature a special commentating crew: Adam Moffat and Cameron Iwasa. Moffat & Iwasa, who were teammates in Sacramento in 2018, will come together for the club’s first-ever Players Only broadcast.
