After a stellar opening night victory at El Paso, Republic FC returns home this week to take on a fitting foe for the 10th season’s home opener. Charleston Battery – who last visited Heart Health Park in 2014 – comes west to Sacramento for Week 2 of the 2023 USL Championship season.
At a Glance: #SACvCHS
- Saturday, March 18
- 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff
- Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
- Tickets
- Pre and Post-Match Party – Rock and Brews
- Watch: FOX40, Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com, FOX40 News app, ESPN+
Republic FC – The Latest
The Indomitable Club returned home from El Paso this week with a win in hand to open the season. After a strong showing up top and scoring the lone goal of the match, Russell Cicerone netted Team of the Week honors for the first time in a Sacramento shirt. The forward was excellent all evening in addition to his goal, nearly opening the scoring on two other occasions in the first half. The backline received much-deserved praise from the coaching staff and their teammates for logging one of just two clean sheets league wide on the weekend.
This week, attention turns to utilizing home-field advantage to the club’s benefit. Sacramento has three home contests on the horizon beginning this week, which should help strengthen the group as they ready for three strong squads. At this week’s home opener, a raucous atmosphere at Heart Health Park will do wonders for the squad as they gun for three more points in the standings.
Know Your Opponent
One of the East’s most improved clubs on paper enters the season with a lot of upside. New manager Ben Pirmann, previously of Memphis 901 FC, has overseen a strong training camp and start to the year after consecutive playoff appearances at the helm of his former club.
Their form from camp translated to a strong opening night performance, where despite not taking three points vs. Phoenix Rising, the club was dangerous all evening. The attack threatened constantly, generating 11 close-range opportunities behind new acquisition Emilio Ycaza, who spent 2022 with Rio Grande Valley FC. Alongside Augustine Williams and Derek Dodson, the trio combined for nine shots and four chances created. All that kept them from a win was a tremendous performance by Phoenix’s goalkeeper, who tallied six saves in his debut.
Head-to-Head
Sacramento’s won both contests in the all-time fixture, claiming a 3-1 win in August 2014, and 4-2 win last July 30. In the 2014 fixture, a brace from Rodrigo Lopez led Sacramento to three points at Heart Health Park. Last season’s fixture took place in South Carolina, with Sacramento again claiming victory by a 4-2 score line at Patriot’s Point with scores from four different players to cap off an unbeaten week.
