Republic FC falls to MLS’ Colorado Rapids in U.S. Open Cup amid frustration with officials
There won’t be a repeat storybook run for Sacramento Republic FC in the U.S. Open Cup.
This year’s tournament for manager Mark Briggs’ team ended Tuesday night in the Round of 32 with a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids of the upper division MLS. It was Republic FC’s first loss of the season as the last remaining undefeated team in either the USL or MLS.
“We played our game,” midfielder Jack Gerr said. “We made a few mistakes, and teams like that at the higher level, they’ll punish you. ... Those mistakes can’t happen in these games.”
Tuesday’s loss came a season after Sacramento took down three MLS sides en route to the Open Cup final against a fourth, becoming the first lower-division finalist in the country’s oldest tournament in 14 years.
But there will be no repeat journey for Republic FC this time. Sacramento on Tuesday fell behind Colorado 2-0 just 15 minutes in. The Republic responded with consecutive goals on headers from forward Juan Sebastian Herrera, giving him three on the season. It was his first multi-goal game since being acquired in the winter. But then Colorado scored two goals to pull away in the second half.
“I thought he was excellent,” Briggs said of Herrera. “To get Sebastian scoring two goals and performing at the level that he did, it obviously bodes well for us now as we focus on the league.”
The match was rife with frustration for the home club. In the second half, the Republic fell behind 3-2, moments after they thought referee Ricardo Fierro missed a handball from a Colorado player, and three minutes after Sacramento tied it at two. Then, defender Shane Wiedt was given two yellow cards in the 61st and 62nd minutes, forcing Sacramento to play with 10 men the rest of the way.
Still, Republic FC held 59% of the possession and outshot Colorado 15-8 with five shots on target to the Rapids’ four. The Republic had the advantage in corner kicks, 7-2, but ultimately their goals allowed did them in, including two in the first 15 minutes.
“Tough result,” Briggs said. “We gave up two sloppy goals early, and when you play MLS teams and the caliber of opponent like we did, it’s a hard mountain to climb. And then we climb that mountain and give up a really sloppy third goal that kills off the game, really.”
Briggs was given a yellow card in the second half and had harsh criticism of the officiating afterwards.
“I’m probably best not to comment on it,” Briggs said. “I have to look at the sending off that changed the game, but then the hand ball just before they scored the third goal — I don’t know how you miss that. But that’s football. You can’t complain about the officiating. It is what it is. Hopefully, he goes away and watches film and learns from it and gets better. Because he doesn’t have to stand in front of you guys and answer any questions, whereas I do.”
Colorado’s first goal came from midfielder Jonathan Lewis after Republic FC fumbled the ball away in its own half, allowing Lewis to shake past goalkeeper Danny Vitiello in the fourth minute.
The Rapids’ second goal came in the 15th minute when defender Michael Edwards had a clean header right in front of the goal off a corner kick. Herrera’s first goal came in the 30th minute off a well-placed cross from midfielder Keko while Gerr assisted in his second in the 52nd minute to tie it at two.
But the wheels came off over the next three minutes on the missed hand ball Sacramento disputed and the go-ahead goal from Sam Nicholson, which came off a rebound on a shot off the post from Michael Barrios.
Sacramento remains unbeaten at 5-0-3 in league play and holds first place in the USL’s Western Conference. The Republic will return to the pitch Saturday at Heart Health Park to play Indy Eleven at 7 p.m.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 12:46 AM.
