2025 Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC 1, Charleston Battery 0

It was a battle of the second seeds in this penultimate matchup for the Republic as they hosted the Charleston Battery. And the Republic's only shot on target would be the difference maker as Khori Bennett got the lone goal in this match.

Even without last year's Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner, Nick Markanich, Charleston has built one of the most potent attacks in the league. Cal Jennings and MD Myers were 2nd and 3rd in the 2025 race for the Golden Boot. Juan David Torres was leading the league in assists and 2nd in chances created. Torres and Jennings were also 2nd and 3rd in shots taken. And as a team, the Battery leads the league in goals scored and shots taken. And pair all of this talent with newcomer Rubio Rubin, who has scored four goals and gotten three assists in nineteen appearances. All of this to say that Ben Pirrman has built a stellar attacking lineup that has powered their way to the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. Charleston was locked into the two seed for the Eastern Conference as they couldn't catch Louisville or have a lower seed catch them. Charleston were coming into this match on a six-game unbeaten streak as their last loss came at the end of August. The last match for them was a 1-1 draw against Detroit. And the last time these two sides met, it was a 2-1 win for Charleston.

Sacramento was seeking to clinch the number two seed in the Western Conference with a win in this match. They just needed two points from their final two matches to make that happen and avoid sinking further down the standings. The last match for the Republic was an epic comeback performance against Lexington. After going down by two, goals from Cristian Parano and Sebastian Herrera led a comeback to draw the match. Since that performance, it had been announced that team captain Rodrigo Lopez would be retiring at the end of this season. There will be more to say from me about that topic, but I'll wait for the end of the season to do that.

Coach Ben Pirmann had this lineup for Charleston:

Our XI in the California capital 📋

7⃣ Seven changes from Saturday
↕️ Dossantos, Smith, Edwards, Ortiz, Rubín, Leggett start
🧤 Garner in goal
©️ Smith the skipper
💺 Kelly available again#SACvCHS | #CB93 pic.twitter.com/IA1ASUdH61

— Charleston Battery (@Chas_Battery) October 23, 2025

Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento:

Starting XI for this evening#SACvsCHS | @TiemannLawFirm pic.twitter.com/28vPJIaYSb

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 23, 2025

From the away draw against Lexington, there were a couple of changes to the starting lineup for Sacramento. Jared Timmer was welcomed back to the starters after recovering from an injury that has taken him out a couple of matches. Ryan Spaulding would also take one of the backline spots in place of Michel Benitez. After announcing his retirement from soccer, Rodrigo Lopez took to the pitch as one of the starting midfielders. He would be joined by Justin Portillo. The frontline would consist of Luis Felipe, Dominik Wanner, and Khori Bennett.

Both teams were able to get some opportunities in the opening phase, but the chances went astray as neither keeper was tested.

The first chance of the night went to Charleston in the 18th minute. From the corner kick, the ball was put into the Republic box and fell in around the near post. Douglas Martinez was stationed there and got a glancing header to steer the ball on target, but Danny Vitiello was there to punch it clear.

Charleston got another chance in the 26th minute. MD Myers made a run to get the through ball from Mark Segbers. The low shot was on target but didn't get past a diving Danny Vitiello.

It was a slow-paced affair in the first half when the whistle blew. No goals for either side in the first half of action. There were only five shots taken between the two sides, the split was 3 to 2 in favor of Charleston. The Battery also had the only shots on target, with two shots on target. This really wasn't the first half I was expecting, as both sides know how to score, but the defenses made it difficult to generate any opportunities. The first goal of the night might be the winning goal at this rate.

Coach Collins made a substitution at halftime with Cody Baker coming on to replace Jared Timmer.

And it would be Sacramento to get the second half going with a hot start. In the 53rd minute, from a dead-ball opportunity, the ball was passed to Jack Gurr. He lofted a cross over everybody to Lee Desmond at the back post. The defender headed the ball back across the face of the Charleston goal into the path of multiple players. And among those players was Khori Bennett, who got a foot on the ball and poked it past Christian Garner with the Republic's first chance of the night.

Bennett puts it away! 1-0 Sacramento! pic.twitter.com/0rgrohJzbN

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 23, 2025

Coach Collins made another substitution in the 65th minute. Michel Benitez stepped in to replace Rodrigo Lopez.

Coach Collins was forced into another substitution shortly after in the 71st minute. Cristian Parano was asked to replace Justin Portillo after Portillo picked up a knock.

And then the final pair of substitutions was made in the 78th minute. Lewis Jamieson and Chibi Ukaegbu replaced Dominik Wanner and Ryan Spaulding.

Charleston was piling on pressure late in the match. The Battery were putting in free kicks, corner kicks, crosses, anything to find the head of a Charleston player in the Republic's box. Their best chance in this sequence came in the 90th minute with a sprinting Arturo Rodriguez being played through down the right side. His low cross got to the middle of the box and got to Rubio Rubin. Danny Vitiello was there to immediately close down the shot and pounce onto the ball before Cal Jennings could get a hold of the rebound.

And the final whistle blew with Sacramento getting the win in front of the home crowd. And with that win that was the number two seed secured in the Western Conference. Only one shot on target for the Republic, but they made the most of it. Great setup for the goal with Jack Gurr and Lee Desmond combining to find Khori Bennett in the Charleston box. Good performance against a solid side to get the win. Next is the regular season finale as Sacramento hosts THE Miami FC. Onwards!

Key Takeaways:

• Great gritty performance against a solid team to get the victory and secure the #2 seed in the playoffs
• Good to see the defense hold on in the final minutes as Charleston was piling on the pressure
• Needed to get back in the win column just before the start of the playoffs

Sacramento Republic FC: 1 goal, 7 shots, 1 shot on target, 35% possession, 7 corners, 2 offsides, 3 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Charleston Battery: 0 goals, 10 shots, 3 shots on target, 65% possession, 5 corners, 0 offsides, 3 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Ryan Spaulding (OUT, 78'), Freddy Kleeman, Lee Desmond, Jack Gurr, Jared Timmer (OUT, HT'), Justin Portillo (OUT, 71'), Rodrigo Lopez (OUT, 65'), Luis Felipe, Dominik Wanner (OUT, 78'), Khori Bennett

Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, Cody Baker (IN, HT'), Michel Benitez (IN, 65'), Chibi Ukaegbu (IN, 78'), AJ Edwards, Lewis Jamieson (IN, 78'), Da'vian Kimbrough, Sebastian Herrera, Cristian Parano (IN, 71')

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!

(Photo thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)