Republic FC faces a longtime foe Wednesday on the road, taking on Orange County SC for the first time this season. Unbeaten in league play after a ninth straight result against Indy Eleven, Sacramento’s got eyes on another positive showing in their second match in five days.
At a Glance: #SACvOC
- Saturday, May 13
- 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff
- Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, California
- Watch: Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News Mobile App, ESPN+
Republic FC – The Latest
A hat trick from Russell Cicerone propelled the Quails to a victory on the weekend, marking the club’s ninth straight unbeaten result in league play this season. Republic FC had pressure on the visitors for the entire match, tallying 11 shots on target to their foes’ one. Cicerone’s performance was the first three-score effort for the club since March 2019, just the club’s fifth all time, and pushed him into sole possession of second place in the golden boot race.
“We wanted to start the game on the front foot and be aggressive from the first minute,” Head Coach Mark Briggs said after the match. “And the guys really did a good job of that, I thought in the first half, they were excellent. Second half, they were a little bit sloppy. We allowed [Indy] to gain a bit of momentum, but Russell [Cicerone]’s third goal ended the game for us and gets us another three points. So that’s the main thing – we win at home on our own field.”
Know Your Opponent
The 2021 league champions enter on a bit of a skid, having lost each of their previous four matches. Tied for the bottom spot in the Western Conference, the club’s looking for a turnaround. The club started the year with results in four of its first six and have played tight contests against strong squads nearly every time out, so they are very capable of putting in a good shift against a good team like Sacramento.
A new man leads the club in Morton Karlsen, who replaced Richard Chaplow as manager at the start of the month. Formerly Chaplow’s first assistant, Karlsen’s side has fallen twice since he took the new post – a narrow 2-1 defeat to rival San Diego Loyal and a 3-0 loss at Oakland Roots this past Saturday.
Players to Watch
After a hat trick in the club’s last contest, eyes will be on Russell Cicerone. Orange County’s defense will be heavily focused on keeping him from making an impact.
2022 Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski remains atop Orange County’s formation. The 23-year-old opened the season with three scores, but hasn’t found the net during his club’s losing streak which dates to April 22.
Head-to-Head
Saturday will mark the 25th matchup all-time between the two clubs – making Orange County the second-most frequently faced opponent for Sacramento. In 2022, Sacramento claimed points in each of the two clubs’ meetings – a April 16 draw, and a September 17 win by a 4-0 score line. The all-time fixture is nearly even, with Sacramento claiming ten wins to Orange County’s nine and the two sides splitting points five times.
