Another physical contest between Republic FC and San Antonio FC ended 3-1 at Heart Health Park Friday night. After a stellar second half, the Indomitable Club earned its fifth straight win a and the right to host the Western Conference final where they’ll face Phoenix Rising FC.
As expected, the match began as a tight, physical battle between the two Western Conference heavyweights. With a spot in the next round on the line, the two sides were equally stout in the opening half. But after the break, scores from three different players opened-up the game for the Quails, while the backline clamped down to neutralize the league’s top offensive squad.
“[I told them] just to remain in the game, to remain focused and just to stay composed and understand what will happen in the second half – the game will open up and that’s when we can really hurt them,” Mark Briggs noted of what he told the club at halftime. “We managed to capitalize and score three goals. So over the moon with a whole-group effort, I thought it was a fantastic performance.”
The contest marked a welcome return to the pitch for Damia Viader who hadn’t appeared since September 23 at Colorado Springs due to injury. Entering at the break, the Spaniard provided the type of presence on the left flank that changed the game. San Antonio was forced to adjust defensively to respect his abilities on the flank as well as inside, resulting in his first assist since June – also against San Antonio – on Russell Cicerone’s 49th-minute winner and his first goal since June 9 at San Diego in the 80th minute.
On the back end, Sacramento matched San Antonio’s physicality all evening. Up against the Texas side’s aggressive and direct style, Sacramento recorded 27 aerial duel successes – the second highest total this season. The starting center-back combo of Conor Donovan, Shane Wiedt, and Jared Timmer combined to win possession 18 times.
“I thought we handled a very difficult opponent extremely well,” Briggs said of his squad’s effort. “We handled their physicality. We handled their athleticism… limited them to not many opportunities.”
As the top seed, Republic FC again will play at home as they take on Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night in the Western Conference Final. Kickoff from Heart Health Park for the second-ever playoff meeting between the two squads is set for 7:00 p.m., with a ticket to the USL Championship final on the line. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets.
