Match Preview: Republic FC v New Mexico United – Western Conference Quarterfinals
October 19, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Sacramento Republic FC News Release
The USL Championship Playoffs presented by Hisense have finally arrived. Republic FC is back in the dance for the first time since 2020, looking for silverware after a 4th-place finish in the regular season. A home fixture with New Mexico United is the first challenge ahead in the postseason tournament.
At a Glance: #SACvNM
Saturday, October 22
7:00 PM kickoff
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
Tickets
How to watch: FOX40.com, Antenna TV 40.2,FOX40 News mobile app, ESPN+- and on FOX40 following MLB Playoffs
Know Before You Go – SACvNM
Pre and Post-Match Party: 5:30PM at Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse – 2100 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
The Latest – Republic FC
With the club’s win over San Diego Loyal SC to close the regular season on Saturday, Republic FC secured fourth place and the right to host the Albuquerque club. The victory sends Sacramento into knockout football on a two-match unbeaten streak, each against playoff opponents.
Saturday’s four goal outburst and clean sheet puts the Quails in a good position. With critical experience in knockout games already this season and the confidence that they can beat any team they face, Sacramento is mentally preparing for everything that will be thrown at them. The squad is already looking at this match as the start of a new competition, and has one number in mind: four. Four games are left to claim a trophy.
Opponent Report
New Mexico put in a valiant effort to climb the table for a home seed, but fell just short in the end. Regardless, the club will come to the River City on a five match unbeaten run with two straight wins, ready to stir the pot in the Western Conference and cause an upset.
United’s last few matches have seen them be ruthless in the attacking half, netting eight scores. On the final day of the regular season, they came from behind to best Colorado Springs with two scores from midfielder Harry Swartz – the league’s Week 32 Player of the Week – and theynetted three in each of their two matches before that. They’ll need to keep that up to have a chance against a Sacramento backline that’s returned to its shutdown ways.
Head to Head
Saturday will be the sixth contest all-time between the two clubs, and the third in 2022. Sacramento claimed a draw in the first meeting on April 30, before coming from behind to claim three points on August 3 on the road. Rodrigo Lopez led the effort in Sacramento’s win, assisting two scores to become the club’s all-time leader in the category.
This is the second post-season contest between the two sides. In 2019, Heart Health Park was the venue for the play-in qualifying round featuring the pair. Sacramento emerged victorious 2-1, sending them off to the Conference Quarterfinals against Reno 1868 FC.
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