Two clubs are looking to extend their four-game unbeaten streak as Republic FC and New Mexico United face off in Albuquerque on Saturday night. The match marks the first meeting between the two sides this season, and the first match since Sacramento eliminated The Black & Yellow in the 2022 playoffs.
In the all-time series, the Indomitable Club has picked up two wins in as many matches at Isotopes Park, but Head Coach Mark Briggs knows that it’s anyone’s game to win: “We’re trying to get a result in a difficult place to play because of their crowd and the atmosphere they bring.”
Despite facing adversity in the past two months, Republic FC has produced results in five games since the start of June and remains on top of the Western Conference table. As Briggs explains, it’s about embracing the ‘next man up’ attitude: “It’s all about the culture on a team. It’s about creating an environment that encourages players to fight for their teammates. And right now, we have a good culture and a good environment with everyone giving everything they have on a daily basis.”
Briggs has continued to utilize his entire roster, with players stepping into new roles and putting in key performances: “I think we’re all confident in each other,” said defender Aldair Sanchez. “It doesn’t matter who’s out, we know that someone else is there to help the team. We’re confident that whoever we put on the field, they can make a difference. That’s what matters.”
The club’s most recent result saw Russell Cicerone net his 10th goal of the season in a hard-fought come-from-behind draw against Memphis at Heart Health Park, where Republic FC has maintained a league-best record this season (6-1-4). Now with 9 of 15 remaining games on the road, Briggs is preparing his team for a difficult stretch ahead: “We’ve got to show a little bit of humility and understanding that we’re on the road and it’s difficult on the road. But we can’t have any excuses. We’ve got to make sure we turn up and we have the quality to get results on the road.”
“It’s going to take a lot of guts to get results, especially on the road,” continued Sanchez. “We found that fight last weekend, and we want to keep that up.”
