2025 Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC //, Phoenix Rising FC //

After a successful road trip, Sacramento had a quick stop at home to take on Western Conference rivals Phoenix Rising.

Phoenix were in the thick of the playoff race heading into this match. They were one of three teams on 30 points taking up the final three playoff spaces. However, their run of current form is not helping them as they've only won two of their last ten matches in the league. Rising's last win came towards the end of August with a 4-1 victory at home to Colorado Springs. Afterwards, Rising had two consecutive draw against El Paso and Las Vegas. It's not like this Rising side is wanting for goals, they've been caught up in high-scoring affairs. It the defense that is letting in goals that is really slowing their progress up the table.

Sacramento were coming off a road trip that saw 5 consecutive matches across league play and the USL Cup on the road. It got off to a rocky start after narrowly winning in a shootout against Loudoun and then losing to El Paso. But convincing victories at New Mexico and Tampa Bay have propelled the side's form. And then they topped it off with another shootout victory in the cup against Rhode Island last time out. The Republic are doing what they need to do get victories in league play and some penalty magic has gotten them to the USL Cup final. It's the business end of the season and the Republic are really heating up.

Head Coach Pa-Madou Kah had this lineup for Phoenix:

Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento:

This busy period forced Neill Collins into making some changes to the lineup after the midweek match in Rhode Island. First, Danny Vitiello took up the usual keeper position. The backline remained mostly unchanged, but Ryan Spaulding would get the start on the left week in place of Michel Benitez. Luis Felipe got his first start in the league since June, being paired in the midfield with Nick Ross. And Blake Willey got one of the winger positions in place of Cristian Parano.

Sacramento opened the match with a flurry. In the 2nd minute they got the first chance of the night. Jack Gurr got through with a great ball played over the top of the Phoenix defense. Gurr's cross went over everybody inside the Phoenix box and fell to Ryan Spaulding on the opposite flank. His cross found the head of Khori Bennett. And the headed chance forced  Patrick Rakovsky into making an early save and tapping the chance over the bar for a corner kick.

The Republic were finding their chances early and came close again in the 9th minute. Ryan Spaulding won the ball off a turnover deep in Phoenix territoty. He passed the ball forward and it eventually got to Khori Bennett. The striker then passed it to Blake Willey at the top of the Phoenix box. He could've taken a shot but instead dribbled across the middle and dumped the ball to Jack Gurr making the late run. Gurr fired a low effort but Patrick Rakovsky got down and made the save.

And Russell Cicerone took matters into his own hands in the 20th minute to grab the advantage for the Republic. An individual press was applied by Cicerone as he bodied the last Phoenix defender into making a turnover deep in Phoenix territory. He still had to fight his way forward to get a shot off and when he did it was slotted past the keeper and into the back of the net.

After the goal Phoenix were left trying to find a foothold in the match. They were trying to build up possession but were finding it hard to get past the Republic midfielders and wingbacks.

And then Sacramento doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. Sacramento got a break from the Phoenix press and got the ball going down the right. Ryan Spaulding put in a cross that deflected off of Phoenix's Ascel Essengue and into the back of the net.

With the way the Republic opened the night, you'd think they were the side that had more than a week's rest before this one. But no, despite having the congested match schedule, the Republic came out flying to grab a 2-0 lead at the halftime break. The frontline was aggressive in their press and forced Phoenix into making costly mistakes that were converted into goals. And on the other end of the field, the defense was on point as Phoenix could only manage 1 shot in the first half, with it not being on target.

Coach Collins made a substitution at the halftime break. The Seattle Sounders loanee Cody Baker stepped onto the pitch for the first time in a Republic uniform to take the place of Rayan Djedje. Jack Gurr slid over to cover the open centerback spot.

Phoenix again were trying to find a way back into this match. And their first chance to do so came in the 56th minute. A long ball caught Freddy Kleeman out of position and let Remi Cabral in on goal. Danny Vitiello stepped up and dived at the opportunity to clear his lines.

And then Phoenix got back into the match in the 59th minute. Ihsan Sacko was able to draw the penalty on Lee Desmond after he got a touch past the defender and was caught by the challenge. Remi Cabral stepped up to take the penalty and he sent Danny Vitiello the wrong way to give his side a lifeline in the match.

 

Phoenix was filled with life after the penalty conversion and were putting even more pressure on the Republic backline. And so Neill Collins made a trio of substitutions in the 67th minute. Cristian Parano, Rodrigo Lopez, and Michel Benitez were all summoned to take the places of Russell Cicerone, Nick Ross, and Ryan Spaulding. Also interesting to note that Cody Baker now moved into a centerback position with Jack Gurr returning to the wingback slot.

A red card was shown in the 75th minute to the Republic's Khori Bennett. His first yellow was given in the 52nd minute after inadvertendly hitting a Phoenix defender with an elbow to the face. And then his second yellow was shown after a rough aerial challenge going for the ball.

Phoenix found the leveler in the 78th minute. Hope Avayevu put in a picture perfect cross from the Phoenix left into the Republic box. It got all the way to Ihsan Sacko lurking at the far post and the first-time finish was enough to get it over the line and equalize the match late.

 

A late substitution was made as the game crossed into stoppage time. The first substitution of the night Cody Baker was replaced by Chibi Ukaegbu.

In the late stages Sacramento got one more chance. Corner kick opportunity was put into the Phoenix box by Rodrigo Lopez. It got into the mixer of the middle of the box and CHibi Ukaegbu was on the scene to try and steer the ball towards goal. Patrick Rakovsky was alert to the chance and caught the opportunity.

Key Takeaways:

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

Phoenix Rising FC: / goals, / shots, / shots on target, /% possession, / corners, / offsides, / yellow cards, / red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Rayan Djedje (OUT, HT'), Freddy Kleeman, Jack Gurr, Ryan Spaulding (OUT, 67'), Nick Ross (OUT, 67'), Luis Felipe, Russell Cicerone (OUT, 67'), Khori Bennett (RED CARD, 75'), Blake Willey

Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, Chibi Ukaegbu (IN 90+'), Cody Baker (IN, HT')(OUT, 90+'), Michel Benitez (IN, 67'), Dominik Wanner, Justin Portillo, Rodrigo Lopez (IN, 67'), Cristian Parano (IN, 67'), Lewis Jamieson

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Check out the stats from this match here!

(Photo thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)

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