Brace yourselves, playoffs are coming: Ochoa’s 2-goal night leads Republic FC to draw
Republic FC had struggled lately, losing four of their last five entering Saturday’s regular-season finale.
Behind Sammy Ochoa’s two-goal night, Sacramento finished with a 2-2 road draw against Reno 1868 FC.
FT | Republic FC 2, @Reno1868FC 2@Sammy8A26 nets a brace to secure the draw for Republic FC at Reno 1868 FC. #RNOvSAC pic.twitter.com/0LHEDR4x1n
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 15, 2017
Republic FC (13-12-7, 46 points) broke a two-game skid as they enter the USL playoffs, which kick off next week.
Ochoa opened the game’s scoring in the 16th minute, heading a cross from James Kiffe past Reno keeper Matt Bersano.
.@Sammy8A26 gets a head on it!@SacRepublicFC takes the lead, 0-1.#RNOvSAC pic.twitter.com/SRCOnZGA2l
— USL (@USL) October 15, 2017
Reno (17-7-8, 59) drew level in the 41st on a low shot by Chris Wehan that rolled into the left side of the net. Antoine Hoppenot put the hosts up 2-1 in the 51st, scoring after he collected the rebound from Evan Newton’s save on Brent Richards.
The visitors responded 16 minutes later. Wilson Kneeshaw received a long pass down the right side and sent a low cross past a diving Bersano, allowing Ochoa to slide in and complete a brace with an equalizer to cap the game’s scoring.
We are TIED in Reno!!@Sammy8A26 gets a foot on the service to even the score, 2-2.#RNOvSAC pic.twitter.com/BXdEPNTJr8
— USL (@USL) October 15, 2017
Sacramento will enter the postseason as the seventh or eighth seed in the Western Conference, depending on Sunday’s match between OKC Energy FC and Seattle Sounders FC 2.
According to Republic FC’s website, an Energy FC win, tie or loss by one goal when scoring two or more times sends Sacramento to face Real Monarchs SLC (20-5-7), USL’s top regular-season team with 67 points. If OKC loses by more than one goal, or by one goal while failing to score twice, Republic FC gets San Antonio FC (17-4-11, 62).
This story was originally published October 14, 2017 at 10:52 PM with the headline "Brace yourselves, playoffs are coming: Ochoa’s 2-goal night leads Republic FC to draw."