Republic FC’s playoff journey continues this week as the club advances to the final four for the second time in club history. On Saturday, Phoenix Rising FC visits Sacramento for the Western Conference Final and the second playoff meeting between the two clubs.
It’s sure to be a competitive contest between the two clubs, who have a lot of history with one another through ten seasons. Republic FC and Rising FC have faced each other 24 times since 2014, including matches in the playoffs and U.S. Open Cup. Both sides have played in their fair share of big games. In the regular season, each claimed a victory against the other on home turf.
“The playoffs is all about winning, and when you win games you get confident, and they’ve won games, and they’ve beat two very good teams in San Diego and Orange County,” Head Coach Mark Briggs said of Phoenix. “I’m sure they feel like they can come here and turn us over, and they have every right to. We’ve got to make sure to focus on us, focus on what they bring to the table, and understand how we feel we can break that down.”
“A huge game at home, one that’s very important for our season, and against a very good team who’s hot right now winning a couple of big games themselves,” said Russell Cicerone on Thursday. “We’ve just got to come out and play our game and let things fall into place.”
Republic FC fought off a difficult New Mexico side for all 90 minutes in the opening round, before advancing on the back of a strong second half against the defending champions last week. Phoenix showed resiliency in a match that saw four lead changes across 120 minutes in its opening contest, before claiming victory again in the final moments in Orange County in the Conference Semis.
“I feel like every playoff game we’ve got a little bit better, a little more confident, a little more ruthless,” Briggs said of his squad’s performance in the first two rounds. “So hopefully, we can stay on that path and get better, but Phoenix has also been getting better with every playoff game. They’ve also got a very talented roster, and they’re a confident group.”
“There’s a lot of experience in our group,” Cicerone continued. “And you can tell by the mentality of a lot of guys, how people come in each day, and how they know what it takes to win important games like this. And it’s just fills the whole group with a sense of energy that we know we’re capable.”
For the third straight week, Heart Health Park serves as the stage for the win or go home contest. For such a big match, the team’s message to the fans is clear.
“I want it to be as loud as it’s ever been, I want the fans to get behind us, I want the fans to give Phoenix as much as they can,” said Briggs. “We need the atmosphere – we need everyone in Sacramento to fill that stadium and get behind the team because it helps the guys, it gives us that extra yard in our run, that extra bit of energy. And we’re going to need every bit of energy, every bit of quality to try and win another game.”
