USL Championship side Sacramento Republic jumped out to a big lead and never looked back in a 6-0 home win over the Portland Timbers U-23s in the Second Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Heart Health Park.
The Timbers ran into a well-oiled machine in the Sacramento Republic. Granted they are a professional USL Championship caliber team, but “cupsets” can happen anywhere. The Indomitable Club was rigorously all business from the first whistle.
“We started off really quick, the tempo was very good, moving the ball, getting behind. Very pleasing,” said Sacramento Republic FC head coach Mark Briggs. “The first half I was very very happy.”
The quick tempo led to six goals in the first half with five different Sacramento Republic players finding the back of the net. Duke Lacroix netted a brace and ran away with the Man of the Match performance.
“The most important thing was coming out with the right mentality,” Lacroix said. “The coaching staff emphasized all week on having the right mindset and approach to this game, being ruthless in front of goal and keeping the clean sheet.”
Republic checked off all of those boxes and with the win tied their largest margin of victory for the club, which dates back to a 2014 match against the Fresno Fuego that Sacramento also won 6-0.
“I’m a little frustrated we didn’t break , but we tied it,” Lacroix said. “But it’s good to score goals at home, no penalties.”
One of the best things, if not the greatest, is the platform that the U.S. Open Cup provides to lower league players and teams. Portland Timbers U23’s had several players that caught the attention of Briggs during this match.
“I thought the goalkeeper made some great saves and his distribution was very good,” Briggs said. “Obviously I was focused on my team, but a few players caught my eye which is good for them.”
Now Republic FC will wait a few hours to see who their opponent will be in the third round as US Soccer will be hosting the draw tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM PT. The USSF announced that Sacramento will be in a geographic group that includes the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1), and Bay Cities FC (NISA). As for speculations on who it will be, Briggs is hoping it’s an MLS team.
“It would actually be nice to get an MLS team, but whoever we get we’ve got to put on a show,” he said. “We want to do well in this competition, we want to move to the next round.”
Dami’s first goal for the club was 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iF50A0WPre
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) April 8, 2022
Just captain things 👨✈️ @Lopez_Roro https://t.co/HlN7TfPppd
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) April 8, 2022
