Republic FC closed out a four in 12 day stretch with a big win on Saturday, besting Oakland Roots SC 3-1 on home turf. Another fast start, two quick scores out of the break, and an all-around performance gave Sacramento its third straight win over the Bay Area side. The victory kept the Indomitable Club atop the league table.
The result was a strong rebound from the club’s first loss of the season just three days prior. Against Orange County SC, little went their way. But when the squad returned, they took what they learned and immediately shifted focus to the derby that awaited them.
“[I] thought it was a really, really complete performance from start to finish,” said Mark Briggs after the match. “I thought we defended extremely well, we were connected, we were compact, and then we looked very dangerous in transition, and then we managed the game with the ball. So overall fantastic performance and a fantastic three points for us.”
“I’m very happy for recovering the confidence in ourselves,” said Keko after the match. “We were coming from a loss last Wednesday, and today we needed to recover our confidence – and I thought it was a good win for us.”
As has become a consistent theme this season, Republic FC came out of the gates strong, pinning down their Bay Area rivals with constant pressure early. Before Sacramento found the net in the 12th minute, a trio of chances came close to breaking the deadlock. Aldair Sanchez came inches from his first pro goal, Sebastian Herrera had a point-blank attempt denied by the goalkeeper, and Jack Gurr missed high by inches. Keko’s curling strike that bounced off the post and over the line was the club’s sixth in the opening 15 minutes of a match this season.
“I think it has been the key to our success this whole season,” Conor Donovan said of the club’s success early in games. “I think it lets us put our stamp on the game and kind of dictate how we want things to go. So credit to the guys up front because a lot of them and our wingbacks, a lot of it’s coming from them when the ball is higher up the field and punishing teams and we get chances.”
The early start set the tone, but in the end, it was the club’s effort coming out of the break that sealed the contest. Republic FC again put Roots on their heels with two scores in five minutes from the 51st to the 55th, with Russell Cicerone netting his eighth of the year and Sebastian Herrera getting his first in front of the home faithful. Cicerone’s goal moved him into sole possession of second place in the league’s golden boot race, trailing Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Albert Dikwa by just one score.
“We just spoke a little bit about certain things that can help us, especially in possession of the ball and certain movements,” Briggs said of his message at half time. “And the guys came out and added a little bit more intensity to start the second period, which gave us a platform to then continue on.”
“We were motivated, Donovan said of the club’s performance in the second half. “We knew we obviously put out a pretty good first half, but we weren’t super happy with how we ended it. So we just came out motivated and wanted to put the game away.”
