Sacramento gets right back to league play this weekend when Eastern Conference side Indy Eleven makes its way to Heart Health Park. Unbeaten in eight USL Championship matches, the Indomitable Club will look to maintain its position at the top of the table. The Indiana club makes its first ever visit to Heart Health Park in a second straight road tilt.
At a Glance: #SACvIND
- Saturday, May 13
- Gates open at 5:30 p.m. – Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to multiple events at Cal Expo
- 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff
- Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
- Tickets
- Watch: Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News Mobile App, ESPN+
- Drink Special: $6 draft beers until 6:45 p.m.
- Pre and Post-Match Party: Rock & Brews
Republic FC – The Latest
Sacramento suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup, falling to the Colorado Rapids in the Round of 32. The club rallied well, fighting back to equalize in the second half after going down two-nil. Sebastian Herrera continued where he left off in the club’s last match, heading in two scores for his first brace of the season. A memorable celebration with Rodrigo Lopez on the sideline headlined the night for the Colombian when he netted the equalizer.
While a tough one to swallow, the club’s ready to turn the page and put all of its attention on league play and the quest for a trophy at the end. “I told them to dust themselves off. It’s a loss, and we don’t want to have any of those,” said Mark Briggs after the match. “But at the same time they should be proud of what they put out there and the performance that they put on. We dust ourselves off and we go against Indy Eleven.”
Know Your Opponent
The Boys in Blue have hovered around the playoff line all season long and come to Sacramento on two straight results. A victory in their last match over Loudoun United FC has them very much in the mix in a crowded East, where seven squads are separated by just three points. The club has been better on the road than at home this season, claiming each of its two victories on enemy soil. In road matches so far, the club has conceded less than a goal per game and secured seven of its nine points.
Players to Watch
Indy possesses attacking firepower Sacramento will need to prepare for. Weapons that have had success against the Quails litter their roster, including former Phoenix Rising attackers Solomon Asante and Aodhann Quinn. The duo serves as complement to striker Sebastian Guenzatti, who moved to the club from Tampa Bay Rowdies in the offseason and leads the squad with two scores.
Republic FC forward Sebastian Herrera has come out in a big way the last two contests. He netted his first goal on April 28 against FC Tulsa and followed up that performance with a brace against the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday. He’ll be looking turn that recent form into a streak by scoring in a third straight game. Defender Jared Timmer will also look for a strong showing against his former club.
Head-to-Head
Saturday marks the first-ever match between Sacramento and Indy Eleven. Republic FC enters the contest on a league-leading 18 points with a 5-0-3 record in league play, and Indy enters on 9 points with two wins, three draws and three defeats. Sacramento has the advantage on the stat sheet, with its 14 goals through eight matches being twice that of Indy Eleven’s seven on the year and two scores conceded to Indy’s 10.
