More stellar performances for Republic FC’s youth academy squads continued the club’s strong start to MLS NEXT play this past weekend. In a spirited slate of regional derbies, four contests against the San Jose Earthquakes saw Sacramento’s youth sides club claim two wins and two draws. The results marked the third straight unbeaten weekend for the Academy in MLS NEXT play.
The Results:
U-13:
1-0 Win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
U-15
1-1 Draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes
U-14
4-4 Draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes
U-17
3-1 Win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
for the first time this season. Sacramento’s U-17 squad put in a stellar performance in the first of the four contests, as scores from Chibi Ukaegbu, Luis Gomez and Zach Looney led the way to a 3-1 victory. The result keeps the U-17’s unbeaten through its first six matches this season with four wins and two draws. The day’s second win came from the U-13 side, who held scoreless their Bay Area foes in a 1-0 result. A first half score proved to be all the squad needed as the club’s backline held on for its for its seventh straight win to open the season, and sixth consecutive clean sheet.
The U-14 and U-15 squads showed incredible resilience in the day’s ensuing contests. The U-15’s played well in a come from behind result, securing a 1-1 draw after going down in the opening minutes. A back-and-forth game for the U-14 side saw eight goals scored – four for each side by the time the final whistle sounded. Sacramento went up early, before fighting off pressure from a strong opponent the rest of the match to secure a point.
What Comes Next
Republic FC’s older squads each will return to action next weekend. Saturday, the U-15, U-16, and U-17 sides travel to take on Napa United, before welcoming De Anza Force to Cosumnes River College on Sunday. The U-13 and U-14 teams will be off for a bye week, before returning to the pitch on November 4 when all five teams squads up with Silicon Valley SA in the Bay Area. Each side has a busy schedule in the coming weeks, highlighted by big away matches for the U-15, U-16, and U-17 squads against their counterparts from Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers in November.
