2026 Match Recap: Oakland Roots SC 2, Sacramento Republic FC 3

We've got a barnburner to end the regular season as both teams need something from this match as Sacramento took on their HellaCup rivals, Oakland. The Republic got the match started off quickly thanks to Alfredo Midence. But Oakland responded with two goals just before halftime. The Republic left it late to make the comeback and claim the HellaCup for the second season in a row and take the 2nd spot in the Western Conference.

Oakland were on the outside looking in at the start of this matchweek. Their recent run of form has kept them alive up to this point, with three wins in their last five. And four of those games were against Western Conference playoff contenders. Their last match was a 4-2 win over Tulsa, as they fell behind twice before running away with the win. The Roots needed a win here and hoped that both Orange County and Phoenix drop points in their respective matches. A draw could see them through, but it would come down to the tiebreakers.

Despite Sacramento claiming their spot in the postseason already, there was still plenty on the line for them. A shot at the top seed was still possible, as the Republic needed a win and no winner between New Mexico and El Paso. But if the Republic lost, they could fall to the 4th seed. You want the easiest road in the playoffs, and for the Republic, that means playing in front of your home crowd. The Republic own the season series against Oakland. The last match was a 3-1 road win back in July. The clubs also met earlier in the USL Cup, with the Republic winning 1-0.

Coach Ryan Martin had this squad for Oakland:

LET'S DO IT. LIFTERS: 02. Lapa, 15. Hackshaw, 17. Tingey, 21. Lepley, 23. Bravo, 27. Jaquesson, 32. Escobar. Presented by @AnthemBlueCross. #SACvOAK https://t.co/PzCRhZkQSs

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) October 25, 2026

Coach Neill Collins had this setup for Sacramento:

Your starting XI 🔒 #SACvOAK https://t.co/L1kFcVhiDX

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 25, 2026

Only one change was made to the starting lineup from the Republic's last match against El Paso. Alfredo Midence would return to the Republic attack, taking the place of Forster Ajago. I am becoming worried about Freddy Kleeman's condition. He came off at halftime two matches ago against Colorado Springs. And then was left off the bench against El Paso. Maybe it's just a sign that Collins is opting for a four-back system. But that may just be a result of Kleeman's current availability, as he's not named to the teamsheet for this one.

One tactical choice from the Republic that drew plenty of criticism over the past couple of seasons was their lack of danger on corner kicks. Well, the Republic have scored a bunch of those this current season. More specifically, it was the Republic's consistent use of short corners. Well, Alfredo Midence capitalized on a short corner in the 2nd minute to get this match started off quickly. Midence played a short corner to Memo Rodriguez, who immediately played it back to him. Midence dribbled towards the Oakland box and took an angled opportunity that cut through the mass of players. The shot took a deflection on the way through that forced it out of the reach of Kendall McIntosh.

Midence gets Republic the early lead 💪 https://t.co/AWZu3Y7Che

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 25, 2026

The Republic tried to double the lead in the 6th minute. From a counterattacking opportunity, Jack Gurr sprayed the ball wide to Mayele Malango. The winger dribbled the ball down the left flank before putting a cross into the Oakland box. Midence was looking to double his goal tally as he took a shot that forced Kendall McIntosh into a save. Memo Rodriguez on the rebound put his shot over the bar. Then, from the goal kick, the Republic won the initial challenge, and the ball went back to Midence, who headed it onto the path of Cal Jennings. From the middle of the box, Jennings put another shot on target for the Republic as McIntosh again was forced to make another early save. Midence with the rebound was off-target.

Oakland were now building their way into the match as they got a couple of near misses around the 22nd minute mark. The first chance was a result of Oakland springing a quick attack with Peter Wilson and Danny Trejo. Peter Wilson dribbled around the Sacramento box before spotting the late run of Bobsi Byaruhanga. The shot from the Roots' midfielder was narrowly off-target. And then in the next attack, Wolfgang Prentice sprang forward and lofted a cross aimed at Danny Trejo. Danny Vitiello intervened before the cross could reach the foot of Trejo. Tyler Gibson gathered the rebound and fired a shot, but Danny Vitiello stood tall to parry the shot away before it was cleared.

And then Oakland flipped the match on its head as they hit the Republic with a duo of sucker punches at the end of the first half. The first goal in the 45th minute came as Jesus de Vicente swung in a free kick opportunity into the Republic box. The cross wasn't cleared properly as the ball fell back towards the middle of the eighteen. Danny Trejo was first to the scene, and he put in a driven effort that snuck through multiple Republic defenders and into the back of the net.

Trejo bags our first of the night to bring things level! 1-1 | #SACvOAK https://t.co/Eb5Dc4tu3Z

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) October 25, 2026

The second Oakland goal came in stoppage time with Jesus de Vicente getting the ball on the break down the left-hand side for Oakland. He quickly played a low cross to the top of the Republic box. Lee Desmond was the lone defender to try and fend off Peter Wilson, but Wilson won that duel as he got on the ball and snuck his shot between the legs of an onrushing Danny Vitiello to give the Roots the lead right before the half.

Jesus De Vicente with the dime to Peter Wilson to give us the lead in the final minutes of the first half! 🤩 1-2 | #SACvOAK https://t.co/CYNyUYZWD7

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) October 25, 2026

Both teams needed a result out of this one, and you can tell by how the first half was played. Both ends of the field were open, and at times it was a track meet, with both keepers tested. Sacramento opened the match on the front foot with the Midence goal and a couple of more opportunities. But something that has plagued the defense came back in this one as they couldn't close out the half as they coughed up two goals to the Roots.

The Republic got to work again to start the second half and tried to break down the Oakland backline. The game's tempo slowed compared to the first half as both teams tried to be more methodical. 

Coach Collins made a trio of substitutions at the 65th minute. Blake Willey, Ryan Spaulding, and Mark-Anthony Kaye were asked to replace Alfredo Midence, Michel Benitez, and Pep Casas.

Coach Collins made another substitution at the 72nd minute. Kyle Edwards came on to replace Cal Jennings.

And then one more substitution was made in the 79th minute. Coach Collins was looking to find a way back in this one as Forster Ajago stepped onto the pitch to replace Mayele Malango.

The Republic found the equalizer in the 81st minute. Memo Rodriguez stepped up to take the free kick from a wide position as he lofted a cross into the Oakland box. Lee Desmond rose above everybody to guide the ball over Kendall McIntosh and into the Oakland net.

DESMOND WITH THE EQUALIZER 😤😤😤 https://t.co/zoJYw2XTvy

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 25, 2026

Oakland needed a win from this match to keep themselves alive this season as they sent men forward in the 90th minute for a corner kick. The initial ball was quickly cleared upfield to Blake Willey. He kept the ball moving as Kyle Edwards streaked through on goal. Edwards cut the ball inside to shake free of his mark, and he placed it at the far post to give the advantage back to Sacramento.

THATS OUR SUPER SUB 👏👏👏 https://t.co/7BZj4CIQyY

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 25, 2026

Oakland nearly got one back at the end of stoppage time. Keegan Tingey had a shot from point-blank range in the middle of the Republic box. But Danny Vitiello was there to stop the shot and preserve the lead.

This was a fight, and the Republic emerged victorious. As teams get more desperate, the Republic needs to capitalize on their vulnerabilities, and they did here. The defense still needs to stay alert even in the last couple of minutes of a half, when they seem most vulnerable. Two goals in five minutes to end the first half is sloppy. But the Republic attack showed out and won to close the season. Next up is the first round of the playoffs as we welcome Tulsa to town. Onwards!

Coach Neill Collins on the match:

I'm proud of the team. Like really proud of the team. Not just tonight, but if you told me with 13 games to go that we'd go unbeaten, that we'd win the number of games that we've done. We've won in El Paso. We've won in New Mexico. That's taken a lot of effort. And tonight, I thought for the first 20 minutes we were exhilarating, should have been well ahead, and then we were the victims of our own problems, and we ended up behind at half time. But the character they showed, the fitness levels they showed. We fell a little short of the of the first seed, but we took care of our business tonight, and we showed that we're very, very hard team to beat at home.

Coach Neill Collins on the initial playoff matchup:

“I think the biggest thing for me was we're at home. Whoever we played, it's clear in the West it's going to be very difficult. We've had really tough games against Tulsa, but we're at home. We've secured the second seed, so if we win against Tulsa, we know we’re at home again. And you try and give yourself the best possible path to the final. But as I always say, the first one's the toughest, no matter who you play. So we look forward it.”

Lee Desmond on the club's trajectory this season:

“It's taken a long time to get because probably up until June, like it was a struggle. We had to keep going, like even at times where I felt there wasn't a lot of improvement or hope, Neill kept saying, 'Just keep working. Monday to Friday, keep working on it. It'll click.' And credit to him, it did. Credit to the boys as well, because we kept pushing, kept pushing, and we had a brilliant second half to the season. But now the next four games is what really matters.”

Key Takeaways:

• This is a statement win to close out the regular season. A win on the road to El Paso. Then a win against a rival in Oakland. With 13 matches unbeaten, the Republic are quietly one of the hottest teams heading into the postseason.
• A Republic goalscorer not named Memo or Kyle scored in this one. The last time a goal was scored by anyone other than Memo Rodriguez or Kyle Edwards was in the September match against Las Vegas.
• Just got to keep fighting at this point. It doesn't matter how you do it, just get the result. It does not have to be pretty.

Sacramento Republic FC: 3 goals, 18 shots, 8 shots on target, 51.8% possession, 3 corners, 1 offside, 0 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Oakland Roots SC: 2 goals, 9 shots, 5 shots on target, 48.2% possession, 3 corners, 1 offside, 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Jared Timmer, Michel Benitez (OUT, 65'), Jack Gurr, Mayele Malango (OUT, 79'), Danny Crisostomo, Pep Casas (OUT, 65'), Memo Rodriguez, Cal Jennings (OUT, 72'), Alfredo Midence (OUT, 65')

Republic FC Bench: Jacob Randolph, Aaron Essel, Tim Leibold, Ryan Spaulding (IN, 65'), Mark-Anthony Kaye (IN, 65'), Blake Willey (IN, 65'), Kyle Edwards (IN, 72'), Forster Ajago (IN, 79')

Photos and quotes, thanks to Sacramento Republic FC.