2025 Playoff Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC //, Orange County SC //

Seven spots were already claimed in the quarterfinals with the last one up for grabs as Sacramento hosted Orange County in the first round of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs. //

Orange County had to wait until the final day to know if their berth in the postseason was secured. A result against Indy Eleven on the final day was needed and achieved by Danny Stone's men to clinch their spot. Coming into this one, Orange County were unbeaten in their last five matches. They got three impressive draws against El Paso, New Mexico and Louisville. And their two wins were against San Antonio and the aforementioned Indy Eleven. Orange County owns the regular season matchup as they got one win early in the season against Sacramento. And then got a second win in the USL Cup, giving Sacramento their only loss in the group stage.

Sacramento didn't need to wait until the final matchday to know if they were going to make the postseason. The Republic clinched the second seed in their second to last match with a win against the Charleston Battery. However, their recent form could be worrying as they only got two wins in their last seven games played. Those two wins being the aforementioned Charleston Battery and a win against Orange County. That win was with a rotated squad holding on with Khori Bennett scoring the winner. The Republic were hoping that rotating the lineup in their last match against Miami would help with squad health and bringing some rest for players that needed it.

If you wanted to read my pre-match thoughts you can check out my match preview here.

Coach Danny Stone set this lineup for Orange County:

Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento: 

Starting XI for this evening#SACvsOC | @TiemannLawFirm pic.twitter.com/s708U3dxnh

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) November 3, 2025

The starters were a return to the normal starting lineup as opposed to the rotated squad we saw against Miami. Danny Vitiello got the start in net. The backline would be comprised of Jack Gurr and Michel Benitez out wide with Jared Timmer, Freddy Kleeman, and Lee Desmond in the middle. The midfield duo would be Blake Willey and Justin Portillo. And the starting attack would be Rodrigo Lopez, Cristian Parano, and Sebastian Herrera. Some notable players on the bench are Russell Cicerone, Nick Ross, Khori Bennett, and Dominik Wanner.

Both of these teams were finding space down the wide channels with some glancing shots coming in the opening phase of the match. Sacramento took it one step further and forced a couple of saves from Colin Shutler. In the 9th minute Jack Gurr tried to catch the keeper away from his near post and aimed his shot there. Shutler slid over and handled the save. And then in the 10th minute Michel Benitez sprinted through the Orange County backline and tried his luck from distance, but Shutler safely handled that one.

Sacramento were in control of the match halfway through the first half. They held long spells of possession trying to find their wingers breaking at pace. Jack Gurr and Crisitan Parano were the main targets on the right hand side, forcing the likes of Ryan Doghman back to play some defense. However, the Republic couldn't find a way to trouble the keeper as they settled for sending in crosses into the Orange County box that were eventually cleared out. Orange County were doing their best to bend but not break under the Republic pressure. They relieved this pressure with some quick counterattacks that found their strikers running towards the Republic's territory. Sacramento's backline and midfielders were doing well enough to get back in time and cut out the attacks. Blake Willey got on the end of one of these spells in the 30th minute to take a shot from just outside the Orange County box but it went over the bar.

Shots were at a premium when the whistle blew for the halftime break. Neither team recorded a shot on target as both sides were doing well to limit the quality of chances their opposition took. Sacramento so far looked good at snuffing out Orange County's attacks before they could find their strikers. Ethan Zubak's name hadn't been called on in the first half as the backline usually had a man on him as he was making his runs. On the attacking side of the ball the Republic played wide and were trying to find Jack Gurr and Crisitian Parano. But they weren't able to convert those threatening positions into tests for Colin Shutler in net.

At halftime Coach Collins made a substitution. Ryan Spaulding was asked to take the place of Justin Portillo. This moved Michel Benitez up in the midfield with Blake Willey.

Sacramento were aiming to put Orange County under immediate pressure by taking the second half kickoff and kicking it out of bounds deep in Orange County territory. And this nearly worked out for them as they got a corner kick shortly thereafter. A routine between Rodrigo Lopez and Michel Benitez led to a pass being played to Jack Gurr at the top of the Orange County box. Gurr took his opportunity off the volley and blazed it over the bar.

The tempo of the game slowed down as the match hit the 60th minute. Both teams were using the entire width of the pitch to try and find an opening in the opposition's defense. Orange County were maintaining longer spells of the ball. And with substitution Ousmane Sylla stepping onto the pitch, the visitors were looking for the dagger. The atmosphere in the stadium was getting more and more nervous and tentative as time ticked on with Orange County in possession.

Looking to liven things up going forward for the Republic, Coach Collins brought on a pair of substitutions to the attackers in the 70th minute. Sebastian Herrera and Cristian Parano stepped off the pitch to be replaced by Khori Bennett and Russell Cicerone. We haven't seen Cicerone since the cup final against Hartford.

There was a long spell of just pure tenseness as the match crept past the 85th minute. Sacramento got the first chance in a while for either side in awhile in the 88th minute as Ryan Spaulding won a duel and put a low cross into the Orange County box. The cross got deflected backwards into the path of Russell Cicerone, but his first-time strike was put over.

Both teams got one more chance in stoppage time. First for the Republic a quick cross from Jack Gurr was put to the feet of Khori Bennett. His reaction shot was pushed out by Colin Shutler. And then from the corner kick, it was cleared by the Orange County defense and they sprinted out into a counterattack. Mouhamdou War put a cross into the Sacramento box that got to Nico Benalcazar. His shot required a block from the Republic defenders and that's when the whistle blew.

Shots were even harder to come by in the second half. Orange County found a better foothold in this match and were able to slow the game down to a screeching halt. Both teams were still holding up to repel any attacks into their own boxes. Colin Shutler was the more active keeper in the ninety minutes as Orange County still hadn't registered a shot on target. Danny Vitiello's only action was to swat away crosses and capture balls launched into the Republic's box. An extra thirty minutes was needed as there was nothing to separate the two sides.

Coach Collins made a pair of substitutions at the start of extra time. Nick Ross took over the midfield spot that was held by Michel Benitez. And Cody Baker was tasked with stepping into the backline for Jared Timmer.

Sacramento were testing their luck again from range in the 95th minute. From a dead ball, Rodrigo Lopez took a couple dribbles to get himself closer to the Orange County box. And then as the Orange County defenders took a step towards him, he rifled a shot from distance that kissed the post and went out.

And as the match was reaching the break in extra time double red cards were issued. Some tempers flared after the ball was put out of touch and Chris Hegardt of Orange County and Rodrigo Lopez were tangled up. The two fought out of the tangle bringing all the players close into a melee. Both Lopez and Hegardt were ejected for inciting the incident.

In an effort to try and stabilize the midfield at the start of the second half of extra time, Luis Felipe was brought on to replace Blake Willey who has had an impressive performance on the ball.

The second half of extra time was rather testy as both sides were growing accostemed to playing a man down.

Orange County opted to make a keeper change right before the penalty shootout with Colin Shutler being replaced by Tetsuya Kadono.

Key Takeaways:

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

Orange County SC: / goals, / shots, / shots on target, //% possession, / corner, / offsides, / yellow cards, / red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Michel Benitez (OUT, EOR'), Lee Desmond, Freddy Kleeman, Jared Timmer (OUT, EOR'), Jack Gurr, Rodrigo Lopez, Blake Willey (OUT, 106'), Justin Portillo (OUT, HT'), Sebastian Herrera (OUT, 70'), Cristian Parano (OUT, 70')

Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, Ryan Spaulding (IN, HT'), Cody Baker (IN, EOR'), Dominik Wanner, Chibi Ukagebu, Nick Ross (IN, EOR'), Luis Felipe (IN, 106'), Russell Cicerone (IN, 70'), Khori Bennett (IN, 70')

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Check out the stats from this match here!

(Photo thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)