2025 Match Recap: Monterey Bay FC //, Sacramento Republic FC //

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It has been a rollercoaster season for Monterey as they started off hot and on top of the Western Conference. But as the season continued they had a slow descent down the table to where they are now, last in the Western Conference. Monterey were six points away from the postseason cutoff line, but only had four matches including this one left in the regular season. This season's performance had led to some Monterey fans to call for a leadership change and they were granted just that. Monterey Bay FC President Mike DiGiulio has announced that this season will be his last. DiGiulio has been the club president since their inception back in 2021. In this wake, Monterey announced a new club CEO in Mike Sheehan who has previous experience with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and MLB's Seattle Mariners. Sheehan will be hoping that next season will be better as Monterey are currently on pace for their worst ever points haul in a season. Their current worst tally is 34 points in 2024, and they are currently sitting on 25 points. The team's last win came in July with a 2-1 win against Orange County. In the 10 matches since, they have lost 7 of them. Their last match was a 1-1 draw against New Mexico.

This is the first game in a busy slate for Sacramento. They are looking at another three-game week with two games against California rivals and then the USL Cup final game against Hartford. Sacramento will continue to try and strengthen their position in the west as they were six points behind Tulsa in first place. But New Mexico was just four points behind in third. These will be games that can help Sacramento build their momentum into the postseason as the club will look to ride out their current unbeaten streak. The Republic were unbeaten in their last five matches with the last one being a 2-0 win against Colorado Springs. The last time these two sides met was in early August as Rodrigo Lopez got the only goal on the night to give Sacramento the win in front of the home crowd. There was a chance for the Republic to clinch their spot in the postseason with a win in this match combined with results elsewhere in the night.

Coach Jordan Stewart made this selection for Monterey:

All fight from this XI pic.twitter.com/qpsPFAPPei

— Monterey Bay FC (@MontereyBayFC) September 28, 2025

Coach Neill Collins had this lineup for Sacramento:

Starting XI for this evening#SACvsMB | @TiemannLawFirm pic.twitter.com/5vDXTg7bse

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) September 28, 2025

Only two changes in the lineup from the win in Colorado Springs. Khori Bennett returned from red card suspension to take the place of Cristian Parano. And Luis Felipe got the start in place of Blake Willey.

Key Takeaways:

Sacramento Republic FC: / goals, / shots, / shots on target, /% possession, / corners, / offsides, / yellow card, / red cards.

Monterey Bay FC: / goals, / shots, / shots on target, /% possession, / corners, / offsides, / yellow card, / red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Rayan Djedje, Freddy Kleeman, Jack Gurr, Michel Benitez, Nick Ross, Luis Felipe, Rodrigo Lopez, Russell Cicerone, Khori Bennett

Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, Chibi Ukaegbu, Cody Baker, Dominik Wanner, AJ Edwards, Justin Portillo, Blake Willey, Lewis Jamieson, Da'vian Kimbrough

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Check out the stats from this match here!

(Photo thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)