Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC continue to defend top spot on the table with another point in a 1-1 draw on a hot Saturday night in the Capitol City. Rio Grande Valley FC Toros split the points on a late match curler deep into an eight-minute extra time. With the draw, Republic FC moves to three points clear in first place – lead the league with 33 points at the half-way mark of the season, and claim its second straight unbeaten result following last week’s victory.
Dami Viader was denied the club’s opening score in the 13th minute, when the opposing goalkeeper sent a floater from the Spaniard over the bar. Russell Cicerone found frame with a header on the ensuing corner kick – but another save kept the match scoreless.
A score three minutes out of the break by Nick Ross looked like the eventual winner. Ross would claim his own rebound in the 48th minute to put Republic FC up one. The strike would be Ross’ third of the year across all competitions. Through the match, Sacramento threatened with six of seven shots on target, but couldn’t find the second score of the night.
The match saw another success story come from the club’s development academy, when forward Ezekiel Padilla made his first team debut. The 16-year-old Livingston native entered for Damia Viader in the 89th minute, becoming the 15th Academy product to appear for the club’s first team.
The fourth official granted RGV a lifeline with a generous eight minutes of stoppage time. The Texas club would equalize at the death, evening the scoreline with just moments remaining in stoppage time. The visitors’ Taylor Davila struck the ball cleanly from distance to send both clubs home with a point.
Following three straight home matches, Republic FC hits the road to the East Coast to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff on July 8 is set for 4:00 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Sacramento returns home the following Saturday to face Memphis 901 FC on State Fair Night at Heart Health Park.
Sacramento Republic FC 1 – 1 Rio Grande Valley FC
USL Championship
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
July 1, 2023
Scoring Summary: SAC – Nick Ross 48’ RGV – Taylor Davila (Robert Coronado) 90+6’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Keko Gontán (caution) 17’, Panzani Ferrety Sousa (caution) 72’, Arnold Lopez (caution) 80’ RGV – Frank Lopez (caution) 45’, Robert Coronoado (caution) 89’
Sacramento Republic FC: Danny Vitiello, Jared Timmer, Johnny Fenwick, Conor Donovan (C), Damia Viader (Ezekiel Padilla 87’), Panzani Ferrety Sousa, Nick Ross, Arnold Lopez, Keko Gontán (Rafael Jauregui 68’), Zeiko Lewis (Aldair Sanchez 81’), Russell Cicerone
Unused substitutes: Carlos Saldaña
Stats – Shots: 7, Shots on Goal: 6, Saves: 2, Fouls: 14, Corner Kicks: 5, Offsides: 1
Rio Grande Valley FC: John Deric, Frank Nodarse (Ian Cerro 76’), Erik Pimentel (C), Wahab Ackwei, Jonathan Ricketts, Gabriel Benítez (Tomas Ritondale 56’), Ricardo Ruiz (Christian Pinzon 56’), Taylor Davila, Robert Coronado, Wilmer Cabrera (Christiano François 68’), Frank Lopez (Juan Galindrez 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Carlos Merancio, Eric Kinzner
Stats – Shots: 11, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 5, Fouls: 15, Corner Kicks: 4, Offsides: 4
