Sacramento Republic earns draw in home opener vs. Charleston after losing man to red card

Sacramento Republic FC opened its home schedule Saturday at Heart Health Park with a 1-1 tie with the Charleston Battery — an encouraging result given the circumstances.

That’s because the Republic spent most of the match playing a man down after midfielder Luis Felipe was given a second yellow card, leading to a red card and his disqualification, just before halftime.

Sacramento came back from a 1-0 deficit after Charleston scored in the 22nd minute. The home team netted a goal from Jack Gurr, his first goal of the season, on an assist from newcomer Russell Cicerone from the left flank. Cicerone is off to a promising start in his first action with his new team. He scored Republic FC’s only goal in last week’s season opener on the road against El Paso Locomotive.

The result, coming in front of a sellout crowd for the home opener, moves Sacramento’s record to 1-0-1 with four points in the standings. The Republic is tied for first place in the USL’s Western Conference with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, which also has a win and a draw in its first two matches.

Saturday’s game was the first of three straight home dates for Republic FC, which will host San Diego Loyal SC on March 25.