March 25, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC bested San Diego Loyal SC 1-0 at Heart Health Park Saturday night. The result was the club’s second shutout win in three matches to begin the season and continues the Quails’ unbeaten start to 2023.
Luis Felipe headed home the game’s lone goal in the 40th minute for the eventual winner, and his first score of the year. A strong defensive effort throughout the contest kept the visitors to just a single shot on target for the evening; the clean sheet was the first time this season San Diego was kept scoreless – a nod to Sacramento’s work on the backline.
Each squad traded opportunities in the first half, but good goalkeeping kept each team out of net. San Diego nearly opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but an opportunity from close range sailed wide after Danny Vitiello made a stellar save. At the 31- minute mark, Sebastian Herrera nearly opened his Sacramento scoring account on a well-placed entry ball from Russell Cicerone but was also kept out of net by a snap save.
Republic FC got on the board just before the break from a set piece opportunity. After being fouled in the corner, Rodrigo Lopez served to Luis Felipe – who headed it through for his first score of the 2023 season.
Great one-on-one defending denied San Diego on multiple occasions. Led by Conor Donovan, Shane Wiedt, and Jared Timmer, the Indomitable Club tallied 18 clearances on the defensive end to keep a clean box for Danny Vitiello all night long. Their performance helped Sacramento tally their second clean sheet in three games so far this season, with the first coming in the season opener on March 11.
With 20 minutes to go, Sacramento continued pushing, threatening on a pair of set piece opportunities. Russell Cicerone took a shot from distance that was saved by the goalkeeper before a corner kick bounced out to Arnold Lopez at the top of the penalty area the Venezuelan sent high. The indomitable Club nearly found another in the final moments of the match as Keko pushed forward in transition, sending the ball right to Matt LaGrassa. The Elk Grove native put a strong shot at goal that was again denied by the opposing keeper.
Republic FC closes out its three-match homestand next week when Louisville City FC visits Heart Health Park for the first time on Saturday, April 1. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., and tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets. The…