USL PRO Game Report
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Republic FC clinched a home USL PRO quarterfinal match with a 2-0 victory against Wilmington Hammerheads FC in front of a sellout crowd of 8,000 at Bonney Field on Wednesday night. Thomas Stewart scores his sixth goal in his last five matches as Sacramento pulled within a point of the Richmond Kickers in second place in the USL PRO standings.
Republic FC opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Stewart ran down a Justin Braun through-ball headed toward the goalkeeper. Stewart had just enough time to flick the ball past charging Wilmington goalkeeper Brad Stuver as it rolled into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. The goal was Stewart’s team-leading 11th in USL PRO play.
Sacramento's 1-0 lead would hold into halftime. Republic FC keeper Dominik Jakubek was called to make a few important saves in the second half, the first in the 61st minute when Hammerheads FC striker Sammy Ochoa took a through-ball in stride to get past the defense and sent a fierce shot at goal. Jakubek came out a few yards to make the save, blocking Ochoa’s shot with his knee and sending it out of the penalty area to be cleared away.
Jakubek made the save of the match in the 68th minute. Hammerheads FC striker Sunny Jane trapped a lofted through-ball with his chest and sent a left-footed shot hurtling at Jakubek, who parried it up into the air with his left arm. Jakubek then got up and challenged the ball in the air, punching the ball off a Hammerheads FC attacking player and out for a goal kick.
Republic FC added to its lead in the 76th minute when defender Emrah Klimenta stole the ball from a Hammerheads FC player who had fallen to ground. Klimenta, in the attacking third, took a couple of touches toward goal and sent a low drive past Stuver and into the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead.
“The group has the right mentality and at the moment we are playing good football and creating a lot of chances,” said Republic FC Head Coach Preki following the match. “Overall, I’m happy with the performance and we go forward from here.”
With the win Republic FC extended its unbeaten streak to seven. Republic FC will look to increase its unbeaten streak on Wednesday, August 27 when it takes on the Charleston Battery at Bonney Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, and tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com.
The teams exchanged possession in the opening 15 minutes, and Orlando had a corner which was cleared away from danger. Charlotte had some early chances as a Gideon Asante shot was too high followed by a Jorge Herrera first-time shot that was right at Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. 
Virgara, 23, played this past season with the Riverhounds U23 PDL squad as a midfielder and outside back. He made 11 appearances scoring one goal on two shots.
Aug. 22 at Arizona United SC
"Mark-Anthony is a player that has been with us in training for several weeks,” said Wilmington Hammerheads FC Technical Director Carson Porter. “He has been brought through the youth system at Toronto FC and we are excited to give him his first opportunity as a professional."
Arizona United SC and Orange County Blues FC trail the Charlotte Eagles by three points in the race for the eighth and final playoff position, with OKC Energy in ninth place, one off the pace. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are still available at arizonaunited.com/tickets or by calling (623) 594-9606.
Defender Scott Morrison provided the late heroics for the home side in the 76th minute when he collected a Kadeem Dacres saved shot on the touchline and finished from a tough angle inside the box.
Rochester was consistently in the top five in the table since it defeated the Charleston Battery in the Rhinos' home opener on April 27th. However, a winless month of August (0-3-1) has seen Rochester slip down the standings into the race for the final playoff spot. As the Rhinos prepare for their 26th match of the season there are currently six teams within three points either way of Charlotte.Wilmington is just outside of the three point mark, but the Hammerheads have only played 21 matches of their 28-match schedule.
Mid-week USL PRO results clinched a first round playoff game at City Stadium and put the Kickers within three points of league-leading Orlando as the defending champions dropped points in a 2-0 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Previously, the USL PRO powerhouse swapped home and home victories with Harrisburg after conceding a 1-0 loss in Rochester last month that snapped an 18-game unbeaten streak.
The match had playoff implications for both sides. Entering the evening nine teams were separated by only seven points in the USL PRO table with three weeks left to play in the 2014 season. After the result Rochester moved into a tie for sixth place with Charleston Battery, and Harrisburg remained in fifth place – two points clear of the chasing Rhinos and Battery. However, four matches involving seven teams in the playoff hunt remain to be played on Saturday night and Sunday.
Orlando raced to an early lead, capitalizing on a free-kick opportunity in the eighth minute. The Lions' Corey Hertzog drew a free kick deep in the right corner and Adama Mbengue served an in-swinging delivery into a swarming box. Defender Rob Valentino got a touch on the loose ball inches from the goal line but Kickers midfielder Luke Vercollone headed it off the line. Lameira rushed onto the rebound at the top of the penalty area and buried the follow up shot into the far right corner.
Energy FC (8-12-5) has dropped four straight matches for the first time since a six-game skid from April 15-May 25. The team will be without defenders Mark Howard and Tarek Morad, who are missing the game due to suspension. Each received a red card in OKC’s 1-0 loss at Arizona on Friday night. Energy FC is fighting for a playoff spot and sits in 10th place with 29 points entering the contest.
Los Dos struck first when Hoffman tallied in the 14th minute. LA Galaxy Homegrown Player Jose Villarreal played a ball behind the Hammerheads' defense to Hoffman, who beat the offside trap and had just the goalkeeper to beat. Hoffman calmly slotted the ball into the net with his left to give Galaxy II the lead.
"It's a huge win. A test of our character," said Green. "Last week, was a hard one for us losing at Arizona. But today, we came to play, and we showed what we can do." 
The new site highlights the mission statement of the Super Y League – providing clubs with an unparalleled youth soccer experience - while also adding easier access to information about important league events and programs such as the SYL Olympic Development Program and the SYL North American Finals.
Charleston took the lead in the 79th minute when Amadou Sanyang headed a Jose Cuevas corner kick past Energy FC keeper Samir Badr. The goal was Sanyang's third of the season, and Cuevas' third assist since he returned to the Battery last month.
United’s 1-0 win against OKC Energy FC on Friday pushed the winning streak to three matches, improved the team's record to 9-12-5, and moved the club into a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot in the USL PRO playoffs with the Charlotte Eagles and Wilmington Hammerheads FC. Per league rules, Arizona United SC would hold the playoff tiebreaker based off its head-to-head record against the seventh-place Rochester Rhinos and Charlotte Eagles, and ninth place OKC Energy FC and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
After a solid opening 25 minutes, United suffered a few defensive breakdowns, and the Sounders Reserves took advantage. The first arrived in the 28th minute on a smart turn by Okoli into Arizona’s half. He attacked space and played to an unmarked Bowen, who curled a low cross into the penalty area. London Woodberry was able to get a touch on the ball near the goal line, but failed to clear the danger, which allowed Neagle an easy tap in from close range.
Thuriere has made 24 appearances for the Dutch Lions in his first season with the club, recording one assist. The former University of South Florida standout is in his second professional season, and would make his international debut should he see action against Chile.
Thompson scored twice in the final 15 minutes against the Lions to earn the Eagles a crucial three points. The first came in the 77th minute as he picked up a pass from Zak Boggs and fired home into the far corner from the right side of the penalty area. Thompson then put the game away for Charlotte in stoppage time as he stole possession in midfield, drove forward into the right side of the penalty area and roofed a near-post shot. The victory allowed the Eagles to sit in a tie for the eighth and final playoff place at the end of the week’s action.