Sacramento, Calif. – Number 1 seed Republic FC defeated the 2022 USL Championship title holders, San Antonio FC, Friday night at Heart Health Park. The Indomitable Club found the back of the net three times in the second half to punch its ticket to the Western Conference Final next weekend.
Another physical battle between the two sides went into the break deadlocked. Sacramento nearly opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a set piece when a Jack Gurr volley barely missed the target to the right. A blocked shot by Conor Donovan kept the visitors from a chance at goal in the 38th minute, one of six shots by San Antonio in the opening 45 minutes.
Sacramento came out of halftime with a bang, finding the net four minutes into the half. After Damia Viader entered for Aldair Sanchez at the break, the Spaniard found Russell Cicerone on the left for the opening score in the 49th minute. The Michigan native’s curling shot snuck around two defenders and into the net – the third goal of his playoff career.
Nick Ross doubled the Quails advantage 20 minutes later with in his first career playoff score – assisted by Keko, the club’s regular season assist leader. After Luther Archimède rattled the woodwork on a breakaway, fancy footwork put the ball at the feet of the Scotsman to thread it through. Ross assisted the club’s third score, put in by Damia Viader, sealing the match for the Indomitable Club. San Antonio would claw one score back after flooding the frontline, but the surge forward was not enough in the end.
Republic FC will host the winner of Orange County SC and Phoenix Rising FC’s Saturday contest in Southern California. Kickoff for the Western Conference Final is set for Saturday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Heart Health Park. Tickets will go on sale to the public tomorrow, October 28 at 3:00 p.m. For more information on the match – including early access to tickets, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Playoffs.
Sacramento Republic FC 3 – 1 San Antonio FC
USL Championship – Western Conference Semifinal
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
October 27, 2023
Scoring Summary: SAC – Russell Cicerone (Damia Viader) 49’, Nick Ross (Keko Gontán) 69’, Damia Viader (Nick Ross) 80’, SA – Tani Oluwaseyi 90’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Aldair Sanchez (caution) 22’, Luis Felipe (caution) 85’ SA – Mitchell Taintor (caution) 27’, Nathan Fogaca (caution) 74’, Tani Oluwaseyi (caution) 84’
Sacramento Republic FC: Danny Vitiello, Jared Timmer, Conor Donovan (C), Shane Wiedt, Jack Gurr, Aldair Sanchez (Damia Viader 45’), Luis Felipe, Arnold Lopez (Luther Archimède 58’), Nick Ross (Cristian Parano 88’),Keko Gontán (Matt LaGrassa 77’), Russell Cicerone (Lee Desmond 77’)
Unused substitutes: Carlos Saldaña, Rodrigo Lopez
Stats – Shots: 14, Shots on Goal: 9, Saves: 4, Fouls: 20, Corner Kicks: 2, Offsides: 0
San Antonio FC: Nick Marsman, Carter Manley, Fabien Garcia, Mitchell Taintor (C), Connor Maloney (Justin Dhillon 69’), Shannon Gomez (Ismaila Jome 69’), Jacori Hayes (Lamar Batista 84’), Mohammed Abu (Nathan Fogaca 58’), Jorge Hernandez (Ignacio Bailone 69’), Santiago Patino, Tani Oluwaseyi
Unused Substitutes: Jordan Farr, PC
Stats – Shots: 13, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 6, Fouls: 22, Corner Kicks: 4, Offsides: 2
