Top-seeded Sacramento Republic FC answers playoff challenge from Kings coach Mike Brown
Sacramento Republic FC manager Mark Briggs, a fiery personality during his club’s matches, was able to smile and appreciate the humor when he was asked a certain question following his 1-0 playoff-opening victory over New Mexico United on Saturday night.
Briggs was asked about Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown shouting him out during a news conference earlier in the week, backing the other pro sports franchise in town while highlighting Republic FC’s attempt to bring a championship to California’s capital city.
“Sac Republic, let’s go,” Brown told reporters Friday. “Mark Briggs, a lotta pressure on you, baby. A lotta pressure on you to get it done. I know you will.”
Said Briggs in response: “I appreciate him calling me out and putting a little more pressure on me.”
Briggs and Brown have grown close behind the scenes since Brown was hired to take over the Kings last year. Briggs has attended Kings practices and Republic FC had players sitting courtside during last spring’s playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle had a stake in the Kings before divesting to purchase British club Huddersfield Town FC.
“It’s important for the city — it’s good for both teams that we support one another,” Briggs said. “Long may it continue.”
Unfortunately, a Slander concert Saturday at Republic FC’s home venue, Heart Health Park, means the Republic’s second-round playoff match against defending USL champion San Antonio will go head-to-head with the Kings’ home opener against the Warriors on Friday.
To get to the second round, top-seeded Republic FC had to get past red-hot New Mexico, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, which came into Saturday in better form than its 13-14-7 season record would indicate. New Mexico won its final three games of the regular season while outscoring opponents 8-2.
“It was a team we didn’t really want to play in the first game because we knew how well they were doing,” said veteran midfielder Nick Ross. “... We didn’t play our best, but we stuck together as a team. And in these games, that’s all that counts.”
Two of Sacramento’s most accomplished and respected players produced an early game for Sacramento, and the Republic was able to keep New Mexico off the board to advance to the next round.
The score came on a header from defender Conor Donovan off a cross from Rodrigo Lopez in the 13th minute. Donovan was in a forward position following a free kick moments prior and took advantage of the curling pass off Lopez’s right foot. The well-placed header bounced just beyond the reach of diving keeper Andrew Thomas, causing an eruption from the club’s nearby Tower Bridge Battalion supporters behind the north goal.
The assist was the fifth of Lopez’s career in the playoffs while the goal was Donovan’s first.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Briggs said. “I said to (the team) before the game, ‘You’ve played 34 games to prepare yourselves for tonight. There’s no pressure.’ We’ve been chased all year. We’ve been in first place all year apart from two weeks. So we understand the pressure and everyone wants to beat us, and the playoffs are no different.”
Sacramento got another clean sheet from its defense and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, winner of the Golden Glove given to the league’s top goal keeper during the regular season. Vitiello had a goals-against average of just 0.83 and the league’s highest save percentage.
“Danny steps up in big moments and makes big saves,” Briggs said.
Republic FC got some good news shortly before kickoff. The Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, were upset by No. 8 seed Detroit City FC, leaving Sacramento with the best regular-season record of the remaining teams in the playoffs. That means the Republic would host the USL Championship final if it wins two more games to get out of the Western Conference.
“The guys had the games on in the locker room before we came out and there was a huge cheer when Pittsburgh got beat,” Briggs said. “So I think that was really good momentum for us because the guys want the final here at home. We want to take it one game at a time, but to put ourselves in position where we could possibly host here is what we’ve always wanted.”
Republic FC must beat the defending league champions first. San Antonio and Sacramento have been two of the USL’s best teams over the past two seasons. They played June 24 in Texas, with Sacramento winning, 3-1.
“So now it’s about focusing on San Antonio and making sure we’re ready to perform on Friday,” Briggs said.
This story was originally published October 22, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
