Overview: SAC vs. LV
- Date: Wednesday, September 30
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Heart Health Park (Sacramento, CA)
- Tickets: Purchase now
- Sac State Scarf + Ticket Combo Package (limited supplies remain)
- Drink Special: $5 craft brews until 30th minute
- Watch at Home: FOX40+, FOX40.com, ESPN+
Know Your Club – Republic FC
The Indomitable Club’s busy week continues when the team returns home for a midweek contest. Republic FC has an opportunity to build momentum from a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Mexico United over the weekend, a performance that earned Player of the Week honors for Memo Rodriguez and a Coach of the Week selection for Neill Collins.
The Quails got on the board early to set the tone. Blake Willey drew a penalty and Memo converted in the 12th minute. The squad doubled its lead shortly into the second half, this time as Memo got a head on a Jack Gurr cross.
New Mexico would pull one back in the 73rd, but Republic FC responded quickly as Memo Rodriguez sent a long ball to an in-stride Kyle Edwards. With full poise, Edwards bent the ball around Kris Shakes to become the USL Championship’s all-time substitute scoring leader with 19 goals. New Mexico found the back of the net again in the 82nd minute, but Republic FC hunkered down defensively to see out the win and take all the points.
“There’s going to be games that are difficult like this, but the boys did everything they needed to do to get three points in a really difficult environment,” said Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins after the match.
The win extended the club’s undefeated streak to eight matches and put Republic FC back up into fourth place in the Western Conference table.
“I think over the past two months we’ve been playing good football, and maybe we haven’t gotten the results that we wanted, but tonight against a tough opponent away from home, it really feels good to finally get what we deserve,” said midfielder Memo Rodriguez. “We have a big game Wednesday at home in front of our fans. We want three points because the West is still close. We’re still fighting to get first place, that’s the goal. Obviously the playoffs, but we’re fighting, we’re hitting our stride, so we’re taking it a game at a time. We want to finish as high as we can and I think the team’s up for it.”
Know Your Opponent – Las Vegas Lights FC
With the race in the Western Conference getting tighter each weekend, Las Vegas comes into Wednesday’s match on the outside looking in. Their postseason aspirations, however, are still well within reach and the Lights will be looking for every opportunity to gain ground in the final stretch of the regular season.
The visitors were last in action on September 19, when they picked up a valuable point at home against Hartford Athletic. Despite dominating the possession and momentum in the first half, the Lights would go down a goal in the 33rd minute as Hartford converted a penalty – one of two shots on target faced by goalkeeper Triston Henry all night. Las Vegas’ pressure continued on the other side of the break and paid off in the 70th minute. Just one minute after subbing on, Manuel Arteaga connected on a rebound off Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha to level the scoreline.
Johnny Rodriguez leads the Lights in scoring with 12 goals. The 28-year-old forward recently became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing currently Republic FC striker Cal Jennings who featured for Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022.
Head-to-Head
Republic FC holds a 9-4-5 all-time record against Las Vegas – highlighted by a 5-0 win the last time these Western Conference teams faced off in a league match at Heart Health Park.
In their first head-to-head this year, the Lights took an early lead as Aaron Guillen scored from distance, but the lead wouldn’t last long as Kyle Edwards set up Mark-Anthony Kaye for the equalizer just minutes later and the match would end with a 1-1 scoreline.
