Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC and Orange County SC split the points on Saturday night, playing to a 2-2 draw in the 2024 USL Championship season opener at Heart Health Park.
Scores on either side of halftime by Trevor Amann in his USL Championship debut led Republic FC on the offensive end. Orange County answered both scores, netting one just before the break and another in stoppage time. Amann’s goals put him in the club’s record book as the second player to score a brace in his club debut.
Early pressure put Sacramento on the front foot to start the match. The club nearly pulled ahead on three occasions by the 20-minute mark, with Trevor Amann, Rafa Jauregui and Cristian Parano all seeing chances denied by the opposing backline. Jauregui nearly headed in a cross from Gurr just nine minutes in, before Parano and Amann each had shots blocked from close range in the 21st.
Amann opened the scoring in the 28th minute – finding the net through the air for his first career USL Championship goal to open his 2024 scoring account. Assisted by Cristian Parano from the left flank, the score made Amann the 10th player to score in his opening night debut for Republic FC, and marking the third straight season a club debutant found the net on opening night.
Orange County leveled the match before the half, when Seth Casiple headed in a rebound at close range.
Amann’s second score put him in the Republic FC record books again. The left-footed strike made him just the second player to score twice in his club debut and the first since 2019, when Thomas Enevoldsen scored twice against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Heart Health Park. Orange County answered again to level the match just before the final whistle and send each squad home with a point.
Republic FC will face its first test on road next Saturday as the club heads east to face Miami FC. Kickoff from FIU Football Stadium in Miami is set for 4:00 p.m. PT and the match be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2 and streaming on FOX40.com and through the FOX40 News mobile app.
Sacramento Republic FC 2 – 2 Orange County SC
USL Championship
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
March 9, 2024
Scoring Summary: SAC – Trevor Amann (Cristian Parano) 28’, Trevor Amann 77’, OC – Seth Casiple 42’, Colin Shutler (Owen Lambe) 90+5’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Rafael Jauregui (caution) 39’, Jared Mazzola (caution) 51’, OC – Kevin Partida (caution) 35’, Sofiane Djeffal (caution) 45+2’, Colin Shutler (caution) 90+3’
Sacramento Republic FC: Jared Mazzola, Lee Desmond, Conor Donovan, Jared Timmer, Damia Viader (Luis Felipe 77’), Jack Gurr, Rodrigo Lopez (C), Nick Ross, Rafael Jauregui (Aldair Sanchez 64’), Cristian Parano (Jonathan Ricketts 64’), Trevor Amann
Unused substitutes: Danny Vitiello, Blake Willey, Da’vian Kimbrough, Luis Gomez, Felix Contreras
Stats – Shots: 12, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 1, Fouls: 13, Corner Kicks: 3, Offsides: 2
Orange County SC: Colin Shutler, Owen Lambe, Ryan Doghman (Christian Sorto 79’), Ashton Miles, Markus Nakkim (C), Seth Casiple, Kevin Partida (Andrew Fox 71’), Sofiane Djeffal, Brian Iloski (Ashish Chattha 71’), Ethan Zubak (Thomas Amang 60’, Dillon Powers 90+5’), Bryce Jamison (Cameron Dunbar 60’)
Unused Substitutes: Duran Ferree
Stats – Shots: 7, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 2, Fouls: 9, Corner Kicks: 4, Offsides: 0
