Sac Republic gets back in win column against Portland, sets up a shot at first place
After Sac Republic FC tied Tacoma Defiance 3-3 last month after having a 3-1 second-half lead, coach Mark Briggs told reporters he wanted to see the intensity picked up and for his team to get a 1-0 win the next game against Reno 1868.
After concerns were raised this week at the club’s training about the lack of goals scored recently, Briggs said, “We will get a goal (eventually) off someone’s back or someone’s shoulder. The rub of the green will change and every (goal) after that will start flying in. That’s what I truly believe.”
He was right about that too.
Sac Republic (2-1-3) got back in the win column Saturday night against Portland Timbers 2 with a 1-0 victory.
The lone goal of the game came in the 12th minute off Cameron Iwasa’s head. The ball deflected off the hands of Portland’s goalie and went through the back of the net. It was initially ruled a goal for Iwasa but then was changed to an own goal by Portland.
Had the goal counted for Iwasa, he would’ve become the ninth player in United Soccer League history to score 50 goals. He had another opportunity on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute.
Sac Republic finished the game with two shots on goal and 11 total shots. Portland finished with one shot on goal and four total shots.
Injuries and new faces
A theme of Saturday’s night game was injuries and new faces in the lineup.
Normal starters in the midfield Rodrigo Lopez and Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu both didn’t play Saturday due to injury. Adam Grinwis, who started the team’s first four games of the season in goal didn’t play but was available. Grinwis missed last week’s game against San Diego with a knee injury.
Starting for Grinwis in goal for the second game in a row was Rafael Diaz. He finished the game with his second clean sheet in a row.
Another player available was defender Shannon Gomez. It was the first time he was in the 18 in nearly a year, after suffering ACL and meniscus injuries.
Eighteen-year-old midfielder Julian Chavez made his USL professional debut in the 83rd minute. Chavez spent five years playing for Sac Republic’s academy and signed an academy contract earlier this year — which allows him to play with the first team and keep his NCAA eligibility.
What’s next for Sac Republic?
Sac Republic’s next game against Reno 1868 will be critical. Reno 1868 beat Tacoma Defiance Saturday night 2-1 to stay atop the Group A standings with 12 points. Former Antelope High School and Sacramento State soccer product Benji Kikanović scored his first professional goal for Reno.
Sac Republic is in second place in the Group A standings with nine points. Earlier this season, Sac Republic gave Reno its only loss behind a penalty kick by Iwasa in stoppage time.
A win by Sac Republic on the road Wednesday will push the team atop the Group A standings for the first time since mid-July.
Sac Republic FC Upcoming Schedule
Aug. 12 @ Reno 1868, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 15 vs Tacoma Defiance, 8 p.m.
Aug. 22 vs Portland Timbers 2, 8 p.m
Sept. 2 at Portland Timbers 2, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs Reno 1868, 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published August 9, 2020 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Sac Republic gets back in win column against Portland, sets up a shot at first place."