June 6, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Republic FC took three points away from possibly its biggest league match of the season so far on Saturday. Good work on the wings gave Sacramento all they would need up front, and the backline put in another remarkable showing to shut down the USL Championship’s top side this season.
The Big Three
Sacramento’s backline was as good as ever against the Texas club, who’s big, physical attackers normally generate opportunity with ease. Lee Desmond, Dan Casey, and Conor Donovan held San Antonio to just a single shot on target for the entire match – their lowest total of the season – while blocking four other attempts that would have resulted in excellent chances for the visitors. The result left Danny Vitiello with just one save to make, and was Sacramento’s fifth clean sheet of the season across all competitions.
Excellent Wing Play
While Casey, Desmond, and Donovan’s performances took most of the attention in the victory, play on the wings is what allowed Republic FC to put San Antonio on their heels. The eventual game-winner Saturday came as the result of a perfectly placed cross from Keko, and service from Rodrigo Lopez and Jack Gurr provided more opportunity and almost led to the club extending its lead.
For the match, six players combined to send in service 23 times – resulting in six chances and the continuance of an emerging trend. Since May 11 four of Sacramento’s six scores have come via service from the outside, either from corner kicks or the run of play, with Luis Felipe and Douglas Martinez responsible for the goal each time.
Do it for Randy
In memoriam of Republic FC’s Senior Director of Pitch and the Sacramento sports community’s biggest ambassador, Randy Brink, all of Sacramento’s players wore a special white armband during the match donning his initials. In their first contest since his passing last week, Sacramento’s performance was dedicated to him and his…