Republic FC to host Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids in U.S. Open Cup Round of 32
Sacramento Republic FC is getting another matchup against an MLS side in the U.S. Open Cup after squaring off against four teams from America’s top soccer league last year.
U.S. Soccer announced Thursday Republic FC will host the Colorado Rapids in the Round of 32 at 7:30 p.m. on May 9 at Heart Health Park near Cal Expo. It comes after Sacramento beat rival Oakland Roots 1-0 in the third round of the tournament on Wednesday.
The game against Colorado will be Republic FC’s first match against an MLS opponent since the U.S. Open Cup Final at Orlando City SC last September, a 3-0 defeat. In a tournament that matches professional teams from all levels, Republic FC got to the final by way of wins over three other MLS sides: Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes.
Colorado (1-3-5) has a minus-five goal differential in nine MLS games and sits in 12th place among the 14-team Western Conference. However, the Rapids are unbeaten in their last three games with two ties and a 3-1 victory over Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Wednesday in Round 3 of the U.S. Open Cup.
Republic FC has gotten off to a strong start to its 2023 campaign. The club is all alone in first place in the USL’s Western Conference with 17 points, ahead of second-place San Diego Loyal. Sacramento beat San Diego 1-0 in late March and took care of the third-place Colorado Springs Switchbacks 4-0 on April 15.
Manager Mark Briggs’ group is 5-0-2 on the season and is the only unbeaten among the USL’s 24 teams. The Republic’s next match is Saturday on the road against FC Tulsa.
