USL PRO Game Report
Friday, June 20, 2014
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Republic FC scored four times en route to a 4-3 victory against the Colorado Rapids Reserves in their first match at the club's new stadium, Bonney Field on Friday night. In front of another sellout crowd of 8,000 fans, the victory was in the highest-scoring affair of Republic FC’s inaugural USL PRO season.
The scoring started in the 14th minute when Colorado's Danny Mwanga single-handedly broke through Republic FC’s defense, first using his body to shield Harrison Delbridge from the ball as he made the turn towards goal. He was off to the races down the middle of the pitch and slotted a left-footed bullet past diving Republic FC goalkeeper Jake Gleeson for the opening goal.
Republic FC equalized in the 20th minute as Justin Braun headed a Rodrigo Lopez cross past the Rapids Reserve’s keeper Joe Nasco. Lopez would then score twice before the end of the first half, as his first arrived in the 39th minute. Nemanja Vuković sent a through ball towards Lopez, who dummied the ball to Braun in open space. Braun dribbled into the box and had the ball knocked away from him by Nasco, but Lopez found the rebound, faked a shot, pulled the ball back and sent a low finish toward goal, which was deflected into the back of the net by the Rapids Reserves defender Gale Agbossoumonde.
Lopez scored again for Republic FC three minutes later as Vuković sent a pass to him just outside the penalty area, and he curled a right-footed shot up and over Nasco for his second goal of the half.
The Rapids Reserves climbed back into the match in the 50th minute as Gabriel Torres trapped a Marlon Hairston cross and sent a ball on the ground past a diving save attempt from Gleeson. Colorado then equalized in the 54th minute when Kortne Ford sent the ball to Charles Eloundo, who sent a bullet shot to Gleeson’s right. The on-loan Timbers FC goalkeeper got his fingertips on the shot, but it still ended up in the back of the net.
Sacramento's game-winner came in the 84th minute in the form of Mike Fucito, on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes, who manufactured a chance when he had his initial shot blocked off a short back-pass to Rapids goalkeeper John Berner, but chased after the rebound and acrobatically slid the ball into the back of the net.
“From a fan’s perspective, it was a great evening”, said Republic FC Head Coach Preki after the match. “Seven goals scored and we came out on top. It was great we found a way to get three points, an important three points.”
With the win, Republic FC moves to 7-4-2 in USL PRO play. Republic FC will play again at Bonney Field on Thursday night against Arizona United SC. The match is scheduled for kickoff at 7:30 pm PT.