This Saturday, Republic FC will kick off its third competition of the season: the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by Hisense. It’s already been a memorable year for Sacramento – from numerous league honors for coaches and players, to the club’s historic run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
And while the Indomitable Club has deserved every bit of success it has already seen this year, the message is clear: put everything that has already happened behind us, now we begin a new competition.
“This year we’ve played in the Open Cup, we’ve played in the league, and now we’ll be playing in the playoffs,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “Two competitions are done, and now we’ll prepare for a new four game competition and focus on bringing a title home to Sacramento.”
Yet with Republic FC only looking at the new competition it now faces, there’s no denying that everything the club went through in the Open Cup – from defeating three straight MLS clubs to playing in front of 25,000 people in the Final – has prepared the club for its newest challenge.
“The Open Cup has given us good preparation because we understand what it takes to win knockout games,” continued Briggs. “I know this group can handle that pressure and this group thrives on that pressure.”
“We’re fighting for a new title,” said Republic FC captain Rodrigo Lopez. “This time, we’re more experienced and more ready for whatever comes our way. Our guys love to play big games – this is where we shine.”
The competition certainly won’t be easy. The USL postseason isn’t new territory for Republic FC – the club has reached the playoffs eight times in its nine-year history and captured the title in 2014. But if this tournament is in any way reflective of the 2022 regular season, each match is sure to be a hard-fought battle.
“It’s a huge achievement to make the postseason, especially in the Western Conference this year,” said Briggs. “There’s quality in every team and when you look at the table, there are good teams at every playoff position in both conferences.”
“USL Championship has grown tremendously in the last few years,” continued Lopez. “Nowadays it’s really complicated to make the playoffs, and we don’t expect it to be easy. But we’ve shown that we are a good team, so we’re ready.”
Anything can happen in knockout competitions, but one thing that can be expected is the steadfast support of Republic FC’s Indomitable Fans. The supporters that cheered on their team at every turn this season, that helped Sacramento maintain a fantastic home record and secure the eighth postseason home game in club history.
“We have the best fans in the whole country and for us to have the opportunity to play in front of them is huge,” said Lopez. “Our fans have been with us throughout the entire season and we definitely feed off their energy. When we host a playoff game at Heart Health Park, it’s going to be a good start for us to have our fans there – and we’ll take that energy with us throughout as we try to bring a championship to our city.”
The Boys in Old Glory Red will begin their 8th USL Championship playoff campaign this Saturday with a home match against New Mexico United. Kickoff at Heart Health Park is set for 7:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of half-priced drink specials. Fans can access the stadium an extra thirty minutes early, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. The first 5,000 people through the gates will receive a Republic FC cheer card.
The match will be broadcast in English and Spanish on FOX40.com and the FOX40 Mobile News App, as well as streaming on ESPN+. It will also be available on FOX40 following the broadcast of Major League Baseball Playoffs.
