After a late-winner and superhuman performance from Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, Republic FC continues its four-game homestand on Wednesday night against Las Vegas Lights FC. The short turnaround time and packed schedule add to the drama of the first midweek league matchup of the year.
In six meetings at Heart Health Park, Republic FC has brought home points every time out and claimed the win in four contests. The Indomitable Club will look to build on momentum from Saturday night’s 1-0 win as it faces off with a tough conference opponent on the rise.
“It’s important that we won at home on Saturday, it wasn’t our best performance by any stretch. But it was a performance that we needed to win. And we got the three points. So now it’s just getting the minds about getting the bodies back and focusing on Las Vegas Wednesday night,” Head Coach Mark Briggs said in preparing for this week’s match-up.
Kicking off the longest homestand of the year helped set the tone in the locker room as well as in the stands.
“The fans definitely push us to keep going. Giving us energy to keep going, up until the last whistle,” said Republic FC defender Jared Timmer.
It was the push from the fans and the squad near the final whistle that would give Republic FC all three points. Late substitutes Kieran Phillips and Sebastian Herrera impacted the game with pace and tenacity. Hererra’s 87th minute winner, cleaning up a strong change from Phillips, The late match push as the season extends into the dog days of summer will be as important as ever – and the Quails are already showing what a late match push can do for the squad. Herrera’s goal on Saturday marked Republic FC’s eighth score in the final 15 minutes in a league match.
“We’re very fortunate to have the fan base that we do. They see what’s going on the field. They’re there with us, they help us and as witnessed on Saturday they helped us get three points,” said Briggs.“They urged us along…they gave us energy in critical moments. And then to hear that organic chant of Danny. Just echoing around the stadium was pretty awesome.”
On Wednesday night, the One Millionth Fan will come through the gates at Heart Health Park. It’s incredibly fitting that a voice from one of the strongest fan bases, and one of the league’s best environments will stand as a symbol of the league’s evolution from the club’s debut eleven years ago.
When asked about his thoughts on the One Millionth Fan walking through the Heart Health Park, Coach Briggs said “We’ve been a club that has really helped put USL on the map by putting ourselves up there as one of the elite clubs throughout the USL so for the One millionth Fan to come through our gates is fantastic.”
