Sacramento, Calif. – Late heroics secured three points on Saturday night, with the Indomitable Club besting Loudoun United FC 3-1 at Heart Health Park Sacramento. The Quails extend their lead atop the Western Conference standings and records its eighth match unbeaten to open the 2024 season. The match marked Head Coach Mark Briggs 100th career win across the USL Championship regular season and playoffs – only the third coach to reach the milestone in league history. The win closes out a 3-0-1 April for Sacramento.
Russell Cicerone would open the scoring on the night. Ten minutes after the opening whistle, Cicerone finished a heavy rebound off Loudon’s keeper to record his second goal of the season. Trevor Amann nearly doubled his club’s advantage 13 minutes later with Sacramento pressing high. After drawing the keeper off his line, his right-footed attempt was cleared away in dramatic fashion and kept Sacramento’s advantage at one.
The visitors equalized in the 28th minute. After a shot rattled the woodwork, Loudoun put one through to level the score at one apiece.
Sacramento nearly took the lead back with a pair of chances on either side of the break. Just before halftime, Russell Cicerone nearly found a brace, chipping a shot toward goal but was denied by the woodwork. Conor Donovan headed a Rodrigo Lopez corner kick on target in the 49th minute, with a snap save sparing Loudoun.
In his home debut, striker and Huddersfield Town AFC loanee Kieran Phillips netted his first goal with Republic FC in the 87th minute. The Englishman flicked along a pass to Trevor Amann, who returned the favor creating a chance for Phillips to chip the ball into the net. Six minutes later in stoppage time, Phillips added a second – his first brace in USL play – to lock up three points for the home side.
Republic FC is back on the road next week, heading to the desert to face off with Phoenix Rising FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the match will be broadcast on FOX40, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+.
Tickets are also on sale for the club’s May 7 Open Cup match against Monterey Bay F.C. Republic FC has participated in every tournament played since the club’s inaugural season in 2014 and has made Heart Health Park a difficult environment for Open Cup foes, claiming 17 all-time wins. Kickoff from Heart Health Park is at 7:30 p.m. PT and fans can secure their seats today at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets.
Sacramento Republic FC 3 – 1 Loudoun United FC
USL Championship
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
April 27, 2024
Scoring Summary: SAC – Russell Cicerone 10’, Kieran Phillips (Trevor Amann) 87’, Kieran Phillips (Danny Vitiello) 90+2′ LDN – Wesley Leggett (Riley Bidois) 28’
Misconduct Summary: SAC – Rodrigo Lopez (caution) 5’, Conor Donovan (caution) 21’, Trevor Amann (caution) 50’, Aldair Sanchez (caution) 68’, Jack Gurr (caution) 77’, Jared Timmer (caution) 78’, LDN – Kwame Awuah (caution) 45+5’, Thommy McCabe (caution) 60’, Ryan Martin (caution) 69’, Drew Skundrich (caution) 76’
Sacramento Republic FC: Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Conor Donovan, Jared Timmer (Da’vian Kimbrough 90+7′), Jack Gurr, Aldair Sanchez (Jonathan Ricketts 73’), Rodrigo Lopez (C) (Rafael Jauregui 73’), Nick Ross (Blake Willey, 90+4′), Luis Felipe, Russell Cicerone (Kieran Phillips 73’), Trevor Amann (Shane Wiedt 88’)
Unused substitutes: Jared Mazzola, Chibi Ukaegbu, Felix Contreras
Stats – Shots: 14, Shots on Goal: 7, Saves: 2, Fouls: 15, Corner Kicks: 2, Offsides: 2
Loudoun United FC: Hugo Fauroux, Kwame Awuah, Jacob Erlandson (Justin Melly 66’), Tommy McCabe, Drew Skundrich, Florian Valot, Nelson Martinez (Robby Dambrot 16’), Abdellatif Aboukuora (Kalil ElMedkhar 73’), Riley Bidois, Wesley Leggett (Cristiano Francois 73’), Zach Ryan
Unused Substitutes: Dane Jacomen, Gavin Turner, Tommy Williamson
Stats – Shots: 12, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 3, Fouls: 7, Corner Kicks: 1, Offsides: 4
