Sacramento, Calif. (May 20, 2023) – Republic FC bested regional rival Oakland Roots SC 3-1 on Saturday night at Heart Health Park, keeping the Indomitable Club atop the USL Championship standings with 24 points. Sacramento records its third win in as many matches against their NorCal foes, and the second this season after April’s U.S. Open Cup victory.
Republic FC came out with fire in the second half, netting two scores in four minutes to grab a three-nil advantage by the hour mark. Two strong build-ups put Russell Cicerone and Sebastian Herrera in the net – with Cicerone moving to within one score of the league’s golden boot at eight goals.
A spectacular strike from Keko opened the scoring in the 12th minute as a left footed curler to the back post rattled in for the Spaniard’s first open play goal this season. The score was Sacramento’s sixth in the opening quarter-hour of a match this season.
The club nearly doubled their advantage not ten minutes later. Aldair Sanchez nearly came away with his first career score in the 21st minute after directing a Russell Cicerone ball at goal only for the ball to be cleared off the line. An excellent save from the opposing goalkeeper kept Sebastian Herrera out of net moments later when the Columbian corralled service from Sanchez and put a point-blank shot on frame.
Herrera and Cicerone’s second half scores were each player’s third and fourth of the month of May. Conor Donovan’s assist on Herrera’s goal was the defender’s first since 2020, while a member of North Carolina FC.
Roots SC pulled one back after Sacramento’s two second half scores, cutting the Bay Area side’s deficit to two. The visitors nearly found a second with ten minutes to go, but an excellent goal-line effort from Danny Vitiello denied the rival club and kept the Quails advantage at two.
Republic FC kicks off a three-game road trip this coming week. On Friday, May 26, Sacramento travels East to face Hartford Athletic for the very first time. Kickoff from Trinity Health Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m., and the match 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 returns home next Saturday, June 17 to face local foe Monterey Bay F.C.
Sacramento Republic FC 3 – 1 Oakland Roots SC
USL Championship
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
May 20, 2023
Scoring Summary: SAC – Keko Gontán (Jack Gurr) 12’, Russell Cicerone (Keko Gontán) 51’, Sebastian Herrera (Conor Donovan) 55’ OAK – Danny Barbir (Memo Diaz) 62’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Russell Cicerone (caution) 42’, Nick Ross (caution) 66’, Luther Archimède (caution) 90’ OAK – Paul Blanchette (caution) 42’
Sacramento Republic FC: Danny Vitiello, Jared Timmer, Conor Donovan (C), Shane Wiedt, Aldair Sanchez (Damia Viader 76’), Jack Gurr, Luis Felipe, Nick Ross, Russell Cicerone (Luther Archimède 83’), Keko Gontán (Lee Desmond 76’), Sebastian Herrera (Panzani Ferrety Sousa) 90′
Unused substitutes: Carlos Saldaña, Matt LaGrassa, Rafael Jauregui
Stats – Shots: 11, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 5, Fouls: 18, Corner Kicks: 6, Offsides: 2
Oakland Roots SC: Paul Blanchette, Neveal Hackshaw (Anuar Pelaez 85’), Tarek Morad (C), Daniel Barbir, Bryan Tamacas, Kevin Wright (Memo Diaz 45’), Edgardo Rito, Napo Matsoso (Joseph Nane 62’), Daniel Gomez (Johnny Rodriguez 70’), Lindo Mfeka (Trayvone Reid 85’), Dariusz Formella
Unused Substitutes: Taylor Bailey, Emrah Klimenta
Stats – Shots: 8, Shots on Goal: 6, Saves: 3, Fouls: 9, Corner Kicks: 7, Offsides: 2
