This Friday, it’s survive and advance as Republic FC travels to face Las Vegas Lights in the opening match of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix. The Western Conference was flipped upside down on judgment day, but the first 34 weeks of the season don’t matter now… it’s the next four weeks that determine a champion. In its 10th postseason appearance, the Indomitable Club is prepared for the challenge and opportunity that this tournament brings.
“Postseason is a different beast,” said striker Kieran Phillips. “Obviously we’re disappointed that we didn’t finish in the top half of the table, especially when we had a good run at different points in the season. But that’s done with, so now we’ve just got to give it everything in the playoffs.”
Getting past the first opponent will be no easy feat. Las Vegas is the only Western Conference team to defeat Sacramento twice in the regular season, and with its historic turnaround season will play in its first-ever playoff game. “This isn’t the Las Vegas team of the past,” said Head Coach Mark Briggs. “Dennis [Sanchez] has done a fantastic job with the squad he’s put together and the identity they have, and they’ve had a successful season.”
With a new competition comes an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, a mentality that Briggs’ squad is embracing: “Whatever our thoughts are on the 34 games we’ve played so far, it’s irrelevant. It doesn’t matter now because we have a one-week season. So for right now, we’ve just got to focus on doing what we need to do in Las Vegas. “There’s still an internal belief in what this group can achieve, but ultimately we have to go out there and show it.”
