The 2022 USL Championship Playoffs are here, and Republic FC is ready to leave it all on the field when the club hosts New Mexico United for the Western Conference Quarterfinals this Saturday. Sacramento has already had a successful season by most standards – stepping into the national spotlight in the U.S. Open Cup Final – but the team knows that nothing compares with the postseason and the opportunity to bring a league title to their city.
“From day one the guys have been exceptional and I think they’ve achieved a lot more than anyone would have anticipated,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “This is a huge game – it’s win or go home. We know what’s on the line.”
“Every game in the playoffs is big,” said Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello. “This is the time of year we’ve been waiting for all season, and we’re ready to go.”
Sacramento’s quarterfinal foe is a familiar one – New Mexico United. The two clubs met twice this season, with a draw and a win for Sacramento, and despite being the higher seed, Republic FC is not underestimating its opponent.
“New Mexico is a good team, they’ve been good all season,” said Forward Zeiko Lewis. “We had a win and draw against them in league, but that doesn’t matter now. Anything can happen and there is so much on the line. It’s win or go home.”
“They’ve got a number of good players and have had a great season,” continued Briggs. “They’re going to be a difficult opponent to break down, so we’ve just got make sure we’re focused and ready for anything. But ultimately, it’s the playoffs. And when you’re in the playoffs, crazy things can happen.”
Saturday’s match will mark Republic FC’s 8th postseason home game in club history and 6th “win or go home” matchup at Heart Health Park this year – including Open Cup wins over MLS sides San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City.
“We’ve already seen that this team rises to the occasion when we have our fans behind us,” said Briggs. “When we get our fans to Heart Health Park and get them as rowdy as they can be, it creates more energy for the players when they come out.”
For Zeiko Lewis, the club’s Indomitable Supporters don’t just hype up the team, but give the players even more motivation to put up a win: “Our fans give us a huge boost. They always bring the noise and the energy, and we just want to make sure we give back as much as they give us.”
Kickoff at Heart Health Park is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are still available at SacRepublicFC.com/Playoffs. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of the 90 Before the 90 happy hour special — half-priced drinks from 5:30 p.m. all the way until kickoff. The first 5,000 people in attendance will also receive a commemorative Republic FC cheer card.
