2025 Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC 0, FC Tulsa 1
The Sacramento Republic looked to continue their strong start to the season with their first away game of the year. The opposition would be a very stout FC Tulsa side that found themselves near the top of the table after 3 weeks of action. Tulsa ended up coming out on top due to a brilliant corner kick routine late in the game. Sacramento suffered their first loss in franchise history to a team from Tulsa.
FC Tulsa failed to make the 2024 playoffs. They finished 4 points below the playoff line and finished in 10th place in the Western Conference. The start to the 2025 season has been bright so far for Tulsa. They have gotten wins against Phoenix and Tampa Bay. Both by 1-0 score lines. However, that was flipped on them as they lost their last match to North Carolina 0-1. Apart from the Tampa Bay game, Tulsa has out-shot their opponents. They are able to generate chances but haven't been able to convert them. The question for this game will be can Tulsa find a way through this Republic defense?
Sacramento have taken 4 points out of a possible 6 so far this season. Arguably, it should be a full 6 out of 6 after the last match against Colorado Springs. The Republic were up going into the final couple of minutes before a duo of penalties were called against them that were converted to level the match. Still, there were plenty of bright spots that can be taken forward into this game. Jack Gurr and Russell Cicerone have come out flying for the Republic and will look to continue their attacking form against Tulsa. One stat of note is that Tulsa has never beaten Sacramento. On the other hand, Sacramento has never gotten a win at ONEOK field against FC Tulsa. That is the last of the current western conference teams, excluding Lexington, where Sacramento has not gotten a win on the road. They have gotten wins there against the previous version of the team, the Tulsa Roughnecks.
Coach Luke Spencer had this lineup for FC Tulsa:
Tonight's 11 #ForTulsa | #StayGold
— FC Tulsa (@fctulsa.bsky.social) March 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento:
Kickoff coming up 🔜
— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) March 28, 2025
Here's how we're lining up against @FCTulsa #TULvSAC | @TiemannLawFirm pic.twitter.com/syS2ObX15d
Coach Collins opted to rotate some players into the Republic attack for this game. Cristian Parano and Sebastian Herrera got the starts after making appearances off the bench. And Justin Portillo made his first appearance on the pitch this season. On the bench, there is one name that should pop out to you. Yes, Rodrigo Lopez has his name on the teamsheet. I didn't know what his return timeline would be, but I didn't think we'd see him in the third match of the season. It's great to see the captain return to the lineup and hopefully he remains healthy this season.
The teams were feeling each other out in the opening phases. Tulsa found their forwards more readily at this stage of the match. But, the first decent chance for the Republic came in the 16th minute. A ball played on to the run of Russell Cicerone was cut back into the box by the winger. Cristian Parano got on the end of it and his shot was blocked by the Tulsa backline. Luis Felipe ran onto the rebound but his shot went out of play.
Sacramento nearly broke free in the 28th minute. A ball from Parano was deflected on its way through the Tulsa backline. The pass found its way to the feet of Sebastian Herrera. He opted to take a shot at goal with only the keeper to beat. But the angle was tough and Herrera didn't get his feet sorted out so his shot was fired wide. Herrera also had Cicerone in the middle of the box open to receive an entry pass.
Halftime came with both sides still level. Apart from the opening chances, Tulsa couldn't consistently find a way through the Republic defense. The long ball was their main way to get forward, but there were only a handful of tests for Danny Vitiello. Tulsa was held to 2 shots total, with only 1 of them on target. Sacramento slowly built their threat going forward. There were a couple of half-chances. 9 total shots for the Republic, but only 1 on target. They can put pressure on the backline, but they needed to go further and test the keeper even more.
Sacramento opened the second half on the front foot. There was some great dribbling and creative passing that came from Parano but Sacramento couldn't convert on the opportunities.
Tulsa had a chance off a set piece opportunity in the 64th minute. Long ball was played into the Sacramento box was caught by Vitiello. The keeper accidentally spilled the ball right into a Tulsa player. His shot was blocked by Freddie Kleeman. Damm got the second chance but that one was also blocked by the Republic defense.
Danny Vitiello again had to come up big in the subsequent corner kick. Bautista got the header off the cross put in by Rodgers. Vitiello punched the attempt away. Calheira was first on the scene but it was put over the bar.
Coach Collins opted to make an attacking substitution in the 69th minute. Lewis Jamieson came on to take the place of Sebastian Herrera.
Tulsa was pushing the temp going late into the second half.
And Coach Collins made a duo of substitutions in the 77th minute. Rodrigo Lopez and Blake Willey made an appearance in place of Justin Portillo and Cristian Parano.
Tulsa got the opening goal late on in the match. Great ball from a corner kick put in by Arthur Rodgers. Taylor Calheira rose above the mob of players in the box and flicked it on past Vitiello. The Republic defense and Danny Vitiello were stuck to their places.
EMBED: https://bsky.app/profile/fctulsa.bsky.social/post/3lliafi2js224
In stoppage time, AJ Edwards was substituted on for Dominik Wanner.
Sacramento couldn't find the equalizer and fulltime came. There just didn't seem to be an urgency that continued through the second half. After only having 2 shots total in the first half, Tulsa ended the night on 11 shots with 6 on target. Sacramento took 15 shots on the night, but still was held to only 1 on net. This was the first loss suffered by the Republic to a team from Tulsa. A brilliant set piece ends up being the difference maker, but the Republic just didn't seem to have the effort in the tank. First loss on the season. Next one is back home against Louisville. Onwards!
Key Takeaways:
- Where was the attack? Only 1 shot on target in the entire match?
- There just didn't seem to be much fight late in the match when Tulsa was mounting the pressure.
- Great to see Roro return to the field. First minutes for him since May of last year.
Sacramento Republic FC: 0 goals, 15 shots, 1 shot on target, 46.2% possession, 4 corners, 2 offsides, 1 yellow cards, 0 red cards.
FC Tulsa: 1 goal, 11 shots, 6 shots on target, 53.8% possession, 6 corners, 0 offsides, 1 yellow cards, 0 red cards.
Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Michel Benitez, Chibi Ukaegbu, Freddy Kleeman, Dominik Wanner (OUT, 90+'), Jack Gurr, Cristian Parano (OUT, 77'), Luis Felipe, Sebastian Herrera (OUT, 69'), Justin Portillo (OUT, 77'), Russell Cicerone
Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, AJ Edwards (IN, 90+'), Tyler Clegg, Rodrigo Lopez (IN, 77'), Blake Willey (IN, 77'), Trevor Amann, Lewis Jamieson (IN, 69')
What were your thoughts on the match? Sound off in the comments below!
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Check out the stats from this match here!
Riyan Lacara
All Is Quail Blog Author/Co-Host
The “numbers guy”, Riyan! Riyan is a native of Sacramento and has been following the Republic since day one. He has covered the team across different media outlets including now his own, All is Quail Soccer. Aside from putting numbers in spreadsheets, he has a love of video games and finding a good book to put in his ever growing to-read pile.
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