2026 Open Cup Match Recap: Sacramento Republic 2, El Farolito SC 0

The best season in the world is back upon us, cup season! It is the first round of the US Open Cup as Sacramento played host to The Burrito Boys of El Farolito. And between all of the fights, a game of soccer was played. Sacramento came away as the victors thanks to a brace from Mayele Malango.

There isn't a whole lot to say about this El Farolito team currently. The team hasn't played a competitive match this season, as the NPSL season hasn't yet gotten underway. But, this side will be looking to exact some revenge on Sacramento after ending their best cup run last season. It was a narrow contest between these two teams last year, with El Farolito really pushing Sacramento to their limits. Sacramento got a goal early in that match, but El Farolito generated some chances in their search for an equalizer. Look for Dembor Benson at the top of the formation to lead their attack and be the target man for El Farolito. You can read more about this opponent with my match preview here. The Burrito Boys will be looking to do one better than last season and get past the Republic this time around. 

Sacramento has faced some early tests to start their season. An opening night win against the defending Western Conference champions, FC Tulsa. And then a tough draw on the road against a revamped Lexington side. This had Sacramento on four points in the league after contests against some of the conference's best. But a brand-new attack was still taking some time to gel. The team has registered only 4 shots on target between those two matches. A knockout contest against a tricky opponent, maybe this could be the contest where we see the Republic attack really click. I expect to see a rotated lineup from Neill Collins for this match as the club has a league match against Monterey on the horizon. But whoever's name gets put on the team sheet, I expect to see them try to establish themselves in this match. 

Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento:

Tonight's Republic side 👊#SACvsFAR | @TiemannLawFirm pic.twitter.com/0SqWbsMFHW

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) March 19, 2026

And we got a pretty mixed bag. The backline was a pretty standard lineup with Chibi Ukaegbu getting the start out wide. But apart from Arturo Rodriguez, the rest of the Republic's midfield and strikers were getting their first start of the season. Interesting to see Neill Collins opt to start Danny Vitiello over Jacob Randolph in net. The bench is filled with game-changers if needed.

If the opening 10 minutes were an indicator for the rest of the match, we would be in for a testy affair. Kyle Edwards squared up and went head-to-head against one of the El Farolito defenders. Cristian Valencia of El Farolito got the game's first yellow eight minutes in after shoulder-checking Arturo Rodriguez and kicking at him while he was down. It led to a very stop-start contest, preventing Sacramento from building any actual flow in the game.

Another feature of this contest was that the lack of crowd noise allowed those in attendance to hear all the communication on the field. Takes me back to the COVID-era games. One of the only things I do miss from that era.

Despite the nature of the game, Sacramento still managed to create some chances from the wide channels. In the 17th minute, the Republic sent in a volley of crosses into the El Farolito box, trying to find the head of one of their strikers. Pep Casas sent in a beautiful lofted ball that got cleared out by the opposing defense. And off the rebound, Arturo Rodriguez put in a cross from the right that reached Kyle Edwards. The resulting shot bounced off the bar and got cleared out.

You could see where El Farolito was trying to go with the slim possession they had. Long balls, over-the-top, trying to hit Benson in stride. They wanted to slip Benson in behind the Republic backline, but the defenders were alert to his movement and shielded and intercepted any ball in the general direction of Benson.

Despite the goalless scoreline, it was a fun water from both sides. El Farolito was up for the contest. And despite Sacramento holding the majority of the possession, the few times El Farolito were able to look ahead, they were testing the Republic's backline. Sacramento was finding success by defaulting to getting the ball out wide and sending in crosses into the box. The closest chance in the first half was the headed chance that went off the bar from Kyle Edwards. Dominik Wanner, Arturo Rodriguez, and Pep Casas were looking dynamic in the run of play, they just needed to find that connection to Kyle Edwards and the rest of the strikers.

Coach Collins made one substitution at halftime. Michel Benitez took to the pitch to replace Ryan Spaulding.

El Farolito was finding a foothold in this match in the second half. Some combination passing was leading to some overloads on the Republic backline. El Farolito played the ball down the middle in the 55th minute to Valdivia. He got a quick spin and fired a shot on target before the Sacramento defense could close in on him. Danny Vitiello was forced into blocking it out for a corner kick.

At the hour mark, Coach Collins made a trio of substitutions. Looking for an attacking spark to break this stubborn El Farolito defense, Mayele Malango, Mark-Anthony Kaye, and Memo Rodriguez took the places of Da'vian Kimbrough, Arturo Rodriguez, and Pep Casas.

Sacramento was starting to put some pressure on the El Farolito defense again. A deflected ball in the El Farolito box fell to Michel Benitez. He ran into the opportunity and had his shot deflected out for a corner kick.

The Republic kept piling on the pressure in the 75th minute. A cross from Memo made its way through to the opposite flank and Dominik Wanner. He switched to his left foot and got a shot that forced a goal-line deflection out of the El Farolito defense.

Coach Collins was looking for the dagger with the substitution in the 85th minute. Forster Ajago went to lead the line in place of Kyle Edwards.

Sacramento was left searching for a winner but couldn't find it before the whistle for the end of regulation blew. A couple of chances came to the Republic, but they couldn't get anything decisive.

Coach Collins used the extra substitution to bring on Rohan Chivukula for his pro debut in place of Memo Rodriguez. This put Benitez in midfield to make room for Chivukula at right back. Willey would move to the frontline to play alongside Ajago. 

After some nervous moments, settling into this new formation shift. Sacramento would finally find the opening goal in the 95th minute. A beautiful cross sent in by Dominik Wanner found the head of Forster Ajago as he powered it home past a scrambling Kevin Gonzalez.

FORSTER AJAGO LIFTOFF 🛫

Dominik Wanner serves it in, Ajago finishes it to give @SacRepublicFC the lead! pic.twitter.com/T1KgaCPJfU

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) March 19, 2026

Things went from bad to worse for El Farolito in the 102nd minute, as they had to fight to find an equalizer while down to 10 men. Kipre was given his marching orders after a studs-up tackle on Rohan Chivukula. This would also force Sacramento to go down to 10 men, as they had used all their substitutions, as Chivukula had to be taken off for treatment.

After the Republic's goal, it was their turn to sit back in a low block and dare El Farolito to break down their defense.

And a demonstration of why playing out of the back can be costly, Sacramento sealed the match at the end with Forster Ajago blocking a goalkeeper clearance and deflecting the ball back into the net. The ensuing celebration led to a benches-clearing melee as Kaye ran past the El Farolito bench, making a taunting gesture. This earned him a red card that will be enforced in the next Open Cup match.

The dagger from Forster Ajago clinches @SacRepublicFC's spot in the Second Round of the @opencup! 👏#USOC2026 pic.twitter.com/fHzyXCtA0h

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) March 19, 2026

And after the scuffling, the full time whistle blew. The El Farolito team hopped into the crowd to fight some fans afterwards. But, just as I said at the top of this recap, we were in for a testy game. And this game delivered on that front. There is something to be said about how Sacramento for the most part maintained composure for a majority of this match. It was just until at the end when it was clear that Sacramento would win that the players started gloating in front of El Farolito. Regardless, Sacramento will be moving on to the next round of the Open Cup. The draw for the second round has yet to be announced. But in the meantime the next game for the Republic will be on the weekend against Monterey. Onwards!

Key Takeaways:

• Don't let the melee distract you, Ajago got a brace!
• We knew this was going to be a tricky team. Sacramento got past it and can look forward to the next round.
• Just a shoutout to the stadium DJ for some great music choice at the end.

Sacramento Republic FC: 2 goals, 20 shots, 9 shots on target, 65.8% possession, 20 corners, 4 offsides, 6 yellow cards, 1 red cards.

El Farolito SC: 0 goals, 9 shots, 4 shots on target, 34.2% possession, 4 corners, 2 offsides, 6 yellow cards, 2 red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Chibi Ukaegbu, Lee Desmond, Freddy Kleeman, Ryan Spaulding (OUT, HT'), Dominik Wanner, Blake Willey, Pep Casas (OUT, 60'), Da'vian Kimbrough (OUT, 60'), Arturo Rodriguez (OUT, 60'), Kyle Edwards (OUT, 85')

Republic FC Bench: Jacob Randolph, Michel Benitez (IN, HT'), Rohan Chivukula (IN, 90+'), Mayele Malango (IN, 60'), Memo Rodriguez (IN, 60')(OUT, 90+'), Mark-Anthony Kaye (IN, 60'), Forster Ajago (IN, 85')

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)