Sacramento, Calif. (September 28, 2022) – Republic FC fell 1-0 to Phoenix Rising FC on Wednesday night. Despite a late push, Phoenix’s lone first-half score put the visitors ahead for good. The result leaves Sacramento just one point from clinching a berth in the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs.
After a quiet first half, Sacramento upped the energy in the second to put pressure on their Arizona foes. Repeated service from the wings gave Republic FC chances all evening, but a 35th minute score from Phoenix’s Arturo Rodriguez ended as the only goal of the match.
Opportunities mostly went Rising’s way in the early goings as Phoenix finished the first half with 12 shots to Sacramento’s four. A 26th minute chance off the foot of Darnell King went just wide, before two strong shots forced a pair of saves from Danny Vitiello in goal. Sacramento did answer their visitor’s early pressure, but the Quails’ attackers couldn’t steer any of their shots on frame.
Vitiello had fingertips on Arturo Rodriguez’s 35th minute score from close range, but the rebound trickled into the net to put the visitors up 1-0. Sacramento’s keeper ended the evening with four saves.
Mark Briggs’ Men nearly equalized coming out of the break – and continued to press as the match went on. Conor Donovan pushed forward out of the back to field service from the right just after the second half kicked off, but the defender wasn’t able to challenge Phoenix’s goalkeeper. Later on, service on the deck from Matt LaGrassa on for Nick Ross with 15 minutes to go would sneak through traffic before Luther Archimede’s attempt to finish missed the target.
The club continued to push as the 90-minute mark approached, but good goalkeeping kept out a pair of chances from Jack Gurr on the left in the 84th minute. Gurr again found an opportunity on a set piece at the start of stoppage time, but Rising’s Ben Lundt again deflected the ball away.
Sacramento now heads south to Los Angeles for their final road match of the 2022 season against LA Galaxy II on Sunday, October 2. Kickoff from Dignity Health Sports Park is set for 5:00 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC will return home the following Sunday, October night for Breast Health Awareness Day at Heart Health Park against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Republic FC 0 – 1 Phoenix Rising FC
USL Championship
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
September 28, 2022
Scoring Summary: SAC – None PHX – Arturo Rodriguez (Santi Moar) 35’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Damia Viader (caution) 70’, Jack Gurr (caution) 85’ PHX – Gabriel Xavier Torres (caution) 43’, Greg Hurst (caution) 54’, Joseph Farrell (caution) 77’
Sacramento Republic FC: Danny Vitiello, Duke Lacroix (Emil Cuello 88’), Conor Donovan, Josh Bauer, Luis Felipe, Nick Ross (Matt LaGrassa 74’), Jack Gurr, Damia Viader, Douglas Martinez (Zeiko Lewis 64’), Deshorn Brown (Keko Gontan 64’), Maalique Foster (Luther Archimede 73’)
Unused substitutes: Carlos Saldaña, Tiago Suarez
Stats – Shots: 13, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 5, Fouls: 11, Corner Kicks: 7, Offsides: 3
Phoenix Rising FC: Ben Lundt, Gabriel Xavier Torres, Joesph Farrell, Hayden Sargis, Baboucarr Nije, Aodhan Quinn, Luis Seijas, Darnell King (C), Santi Moar, Arturo Rodriguez (Joey Calistri 86’), Greg Hurst (JJ Williams 80’)
Unused substitutes: Edward Delgado, Carlos Anguiano, James Musa, Niall Dunn, , Richmond Antwi
Stats – Shots: 17, Shots on Goal: 6, Saves: 6, Fouls: 7, Corner Kicks: 4, Offsides: 2
