Sacramento Republic FC (14-6-10, 52 pts) face off against Orange County Blues FC (12-14-4, 40 pts) in the USL Cup Playoff Quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT at Bonney Field. Gates open at 6 p.m. The match, presented by McDonald’s, will be streamed live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL. Tickets are still available for the match at Ticketmaster.com.
The match will be the first time that the two sides have met in the postseason. Republic FC leads the all-time series 5-3-2 and were 2-1-1 against the Blues this season. The two sides met twice in the final month of the season, with Republic FC winning both matches by a single goal.
Republic FC enter the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference. The club is on an 11-match unbeaten streak after recording a 4-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Sept. 24. The unbeaten streak, the longest in club history, features a goal differential of 19-7, three matches with four or more goals scored and two 4-0 victories.
Cameron Iwasa scored his club-record 12th goal of the season against the Roughnecks. Iwasa has played well during the unbeaten streak, scoring five goals, including his second career brace and a stretch of four goals in three matches. Iwasa and teammate Danny Barrera appeared in every Republic FC match this season, setting the club record for most appearances in a season.
Harry Williams recorded his fourth goal of the season on Saturday. Williams scored twice in the final four matches of the season, including the match-winning goal against the Blues in their last meeting on Sept. 3.
James Kiffe recorded his fifth assist of the season when he assisted Mackenzie Pridham’s goal against the Roughnecks. Kiffe has tied Emrah Klimenta for fourth-most all-time USL assists in Republic FC history. Kiffe and the rest of Republic FC’s defense were a large part of the offense this season, accounting for seven goals and eight assists or 35 percent of Republic FC’s goals.
The Blues earned the eighth and final USL Western Conference playoff spot on the last day of the season with their 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The Blues moved into the eight and final playoff spot on goal differential after tying Portland Timbers 2 with 40 points on the season.
Forward Trevin Caesar was instrumental in sending the Blues to the playoffs scoring a brace on Saturday, pushing his season total into double digits. Caesar, who played last season with the Austin Aztex, has been an important offseason addition for the Blues this season. He leads the club with ten goals, 57 shots and 23 shots on goal. Caesar has scored three goals in his last three matches.
Didier Crettenand has also been an important offensive player for the Blues. A set piece specialist, eight of his nine goals this season have come from either free kicks or the penalty spot. The midfielder has also contributed two assists to the Blues. Crettenand has historically done well against Republic FC, scoring four goals and adding an assist in five career appearances.
Ivan Mirković will return to Sacramento the third time this season to take on his former club. Mirković nearly leveled the score late in their last matchup on Sept. 3, but Republic FC keeper Evan Newton dove quickly to his right to preserve Republic FC’s win. Mirković has played in each of the previous four matches between the Blues and Republic FC since transferring to Orange County early this season.
The winner of the match will face the winner of the Swope Park Rangers v LA Galaxy II match which will be played Friday, Sept. 30. Should Republic FC win they will host a USL Cup Semifinal match, while either the Rangers or Los Dos would host should the Blues beat Republic FC.
The match will be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL. Gates at Bonney Field open at 6 p.m. with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Updates of the match will be provided via Twitter @SacRepublicFC or using #SACvOC. Tickets are still available for the match at Ticketmaster.com.
Sacramento Republic FC (14-6-10, 52 pts) face off against Orange County Blues FC (12-14-4, 40 pts) in the USL Cup Playoff Quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT at Bonney Field. Gates open at 6 p.m. The match, presented by McDonald’s, will be streamed live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL. Tickets are still available for the match at Ticketmaster.com.
The match will be the first time that the two sides have met in the postseason. Republic FC leads the all-time series 5-3-2 and were 2-1-1 against the Blues this season. The two sides met twice in the final month of the season, with Republic FC winning both matches by a single goal.
Republic FC enter the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference. The club is on an 11-match unbeaten streak after recording a 4-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Sept. 24. The unbeaten streak, the longest in club history, features a goal differential of 19-7, three matches with four or more goals scored and two 4-0 victories.
Cameron Iwasa scored his club-record 12th goal of the season against the Roughnecks. Iwasa has played well during the unbeaten streak, scoring five goals, including his second career brace and a stretch of four goals in three matches. Iwasa and teammate Danny Barrera appeared in every Republic FC match this season, setting the club record for most appearances in a season.
Harry Williams recorded his fourth goal of the season on Saturday. Williams scored twice in the final four matches of the season, including the match-winning goal against the Blues in their last meeting on Sept. 3.
James Kiffe recorded his fifth assist of the season when he assisted Mackenzie Pridham’s goal against the Roughnecks. Kiffe has tied Emrah Klimenta for fourth-most all-time USL assists in Republic FC history. Kiffe and the rest of Republic FC’s defense were a large part of the offense this season, accounting for seven goals and eight assists or 35 percent of Republic FC’s goals.
The Blues earned the eighth and final USL Western Conference playoff spot on the last day of the season with their 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The Blues moved into the eight and final playoff spot on goal differential after tying Portland Timbers 2 with 40 points on the season.
Forward Trevin Caesar was instrumental in sending the Blues to the playoffs scoring a brace on Saturday, pushing his season total into double digits. Caesar, who played last season with the Austin Aztex, has been an important offseason addition for the Blues this season. He leads the club with ten goals, 57 shots and 23 shots on goal. Caesar has scored three goals in his last three matches.
Didier Crettenand has also been an important offensive player for the Blues. A set piece specialist, eight of his nine goals this season have come from either free kicks or the penalty spot. The midfielder has also contributed two assists to the Blues. Crettenand has historically done well against Republic FC, scoring four goals and adding an assist in five career appearances.
Ivan MirkoviÄ will return to Sacramento the third time this season to take on his former club. MirkoviÄ nearly leveled the score late in their last matchup on Sept. 3, but Republic FC keeper Evan Newton dove quickly to his right to preserve Republic FC’s win. MirkoviÄ has played in each of the previous four matches between the Blues and Republic FC since transferring to Orange County early this season.
The winner of the match will face the winner of the Swope Park Rangers v LA Galaxy II match which will be played Friday, Sept. 30. Should Republic FC win they will host a USL Cup Semifinal match, while either the Rangers or Los Dos would host should the Blues beat Republic FC.
The match will be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday and YouTube.com/USL. Gates at Bonney Field open at 6 p.m. with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Updates of the match will be provided via Twitter @SacRepublicFC or using #SACvOC. Tickets are still available for the match at Ticketmaster.com.
