Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone and defender Jack Gurr have been named to Team of the Week, and forward Keko has been named to Team of the Week Bench for Week 21. The trio of players combined for three assists and four of Sacramento’s six goals in wins over Phoenix Rising FC and Las Vegas Lights FC last week, keeping the club atop the USL Championship standings with 41 points.
Cicerone found the back of the net in each of the club’s two matches, and added four scoring chances. He netted the second goal against Phoenix Rising FC on July 26 in the 28th minute as Sacramento scored four times in the first half en route to a 4-0 win. On July 29, he scored the opener with a spectacular diving header to finish a cross from Keko, before assisting the game-winner in the 55th minute with a lateral pass to Zeiko Lewis. Cicerone’s 31st minute score against Las Vegas has been nominated for the league’s Week 21 Goal of the Week.
After returning from injury as a substitute on July 22, Gurr re-entered Sacramento’s starting lineup on July 26, scoring a goal and assist each. A left footed cross into the penalty area got Sacramento going 20 minutes into the club’s mid-week fixture, finding the head of Keko for the opening goal. Just before the break, Gurr netted his fifth score of the season as Keko returned the favor with a through ball allowing the Englishman to find space in the middle of the pitch.
Keko continued a strong stretch of form with two assists and one goal for the week. He contributed to the opening score in both matches, heading in a Gurr’s 20th minute cross in Wednesday’s home fixture, and assisting the opener this past Saturday in Las Vegas. He added four scoring chances created and served five crosses across both contests. The Spaniard has recorded three assists in four games dating to July 15 against Memphis 901 FC, when he assisted the club’s late equalizer scored by Cicerone. On July 29, he also surpassed a career milestone, moving past 20,000 minutes logged all-time for his playing career.
The selections are Gurr and Cicerone’s fifth of the season and Keko’s second to the league’s weekly top squad. Gurr last earned the honor in Week 16 following the club’s June 24 win over San Antonio FC, while Keko and Cicerone were last selected in Weeks 11 and 12, respectively.
Cicerone’s 31st minute score against Las Vegas has been nominated for the league’s Week 21 Goal of the Week. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.
Republic FC travels to Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday, August 5 – the second of four consecutive road matches. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Seaside and fans can watch the game in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App, Antenna TV 40.2, and ESPN+. Republic FC will next play in front of its home fans on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.
