2026 Playoff Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC 1, FC Tulsa 0

The Republic's first playoff opponent was the defending Western Conference champions, FC Tulsa. It was a hard-fought contest, as neither side could really dominate. But the Republic left it late, as a goal from Blake Willey was the difference-maker to see Sacramento through to the next round.

Tulsa enter this match as the Western Conference's seventh seed. However, they don't come in on the brightest of forms. 2 wins out of their last 10 matches, and two consecutive losses to end their regular season. Tulsa will have a mountain to climb to turn their form around against the Republic. If you want to read more about this squad, check out my team preview here. Last year's playoff run saw Tulsa score big goals to push past their opponents and land a spot in the championship game. It went all the way to a penalty shootout, where the Pittsburgh Riverhounds emerged victorious.

The Republic closed out their season with two consecutive wins to cap off a 13-match unbeaten run in the league. This run of form saw them climb the conference table to snag the second seed from the West. This match will be a clash of two of the league's top defenses, and the question is which will break first. Sacramento will look to exorcise demons from past playoff tries and avoid another first-round exit. In both 2024 and 2025, Sacramento went to a penalty shootout in their first-round matchup, losing both times.

The season series between these two sides was split. The Republic opened the season with a home win against the defending Western Conference champions. Then in the late summer, Tulsa claimed a victory on their home field. Then the teams faced off one more time in October, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Coach Luke Spencer had this lineup for Tulsa:

Harvey St Clair is back for the Scissortails while Remi Cabral also returns to the XI #SACvTUL #UnfinishedBusiness https://t.co/dQyCBrODRo

— FC Tulsa (@FCTulsa) November 2, 2026

Coach Neill Collins made this selection for Sacramento:

Tonight's quarterfinal XI ⚔️ #SACvTUL https://t.co/iS8eaWkxm1

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) November 2, 2026

There is one glaring change to the lineup from the regular season finale against Oakland. Memo Rodriguez was not named to the teamsheet for this one. He appeared to come up with a knock in the finale and will not be making an appearance here. Mark-Anthony Kaye will take his place. But it would be Pep Casas slotting into the attacking midfield spot.

This game was chippy from the start. There wasn't much attacking flow as both teams tried to impose their physicality on the match. There were shouts for an early penalty as Cal Jennings broke through the backline and got into the Tulsa box before being barged into by a Tulsa defender. Sacramento tried to get after Tulsa's backline and find gaps in the defense. But Tulsa's high press from midfield made it hard to progress up the field.

While Cal Jennings was trying to break through on one end, Remi Cabral was trying to find a way through on the other end. And he nearly did in the 16th minute. The forward sprung past the Republic defense and chased after a through ball. Lee Desmond was running alongside him and did enough to throw off the shot that got past an onrushing Danny Vitiello. Jared Timmer came in to pick up the scraps as the ball dribbled through.

As the first half progressed, neither side could really establish a hold on this match. That said, much of the play stayed in Tulsa's half as they repelled the Republic's advances. There were a couple of half-chances for the Republic but nothing to threaten Dane Jacomen in goal.

The teams went into the halftime break level on score. It was hard to say which team was better in the first half, as the stop-start nature of the run of play kept neither side from establishing a flow. So far, the match has played in Tulsa's favor, as they've held an attack that's been flying lately to zero shots on target. And at this point of the season, it only takes one chance to see your side through to the next round. That said, the Republic had some weapons on the bench that could match the physicality Tulsa brought.

Coach Collins made a halftime adjustment as Blake Willey stepped onto the pitch to replace Alfredo Midence.

The first chance of the night for the Republic came in the 55th minute. Tulsa pushed numbers forward, trying to catch the Republic out on a counterattack. But the Republic defense settled back into shape in time to repel the attack and spring one of their own. Pep Casas dribbled forward to get the ball moving to Cal Jennings. The ball was played back to Mark-Anthony Kaye looming at the top of the Tulsa box. Dane Jacomen handled his driven effort.

Another effort from the Republic came in the 63rd minute. A ball put in from a free kick opportunity bounced into the Tulsa box. Lee Desmond headed the ball in. Mark-Anthony Kaye got on his bike and nearly scored a spectacular before Dane Jacomen dived in to block the shot for a corner kick.

Building on the momentum that was slowly growing for the Republic, Coach Collins opted to make a substitution in the 68th minute. Cal Jennings was pulled off to be replaced by Kyle Edwards.

The Republic came oh so close in the 72nd minute. Mayele Malango dribbled free of his man to get down the left flank and put a low cross into the Tulsa box. Kyle Edwards received the ball and played it back towards the top to find a late runner. Pep Casas was in the area and drilled a shot off the crossbar that eventually got cleared by the Tulsa defense.

A questionable call was made in the 79th minute. Sacramento had possession and was pressuring the Tulsa box. Mayele Malango sprayed a cross across the goalmouth, and the ball deflected off of Mark-Anthony Kaye. Kyle Edwards picked up the ball and put it past Dane Jacomen and into the back of the net. But on its way, the ball deflected off Mark-Anthony Kaye's arm and was called off for the handball.

Coach Collins wanted to settle things within 90 minutes as he made another substitution. Mark-Anthony Kaye made way for Forster Ajago in the 84th minute.

The Republic finally found their breakthrough in the 88th minute. Mayele Malango and Kyle Edwards were combining play down the left flank before eventually finding Pep Casas behind them. Casas lofted a ball into the Tulsa box that wasn't properly cleared by the opposing defense. Blake Willey was the first to respond to the ball and fired a bullet of a shot off his right foot and past Dane Jacomen to give the Republic a late lead.

BLAKE PUTS US IN THE LEAD ‼️ https://t.co/VfsvCL1DbQ

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) November 2, 2026

Coach Collins made one more substitution in stoppage time. Ryan Spaulding stepped onto the pitch to replace Mayele Malango and reinforce the backline.

Tulsa pushed on in stoppage time to find a goal and keep their season alive. A couple of chances from Jeorgio Kocevski and Joel Sangwa forced Danny Vitiello to scramble to try and respond, but those chances narrowly missed the target. Tulsa were forced to attack a backline that they didn't record a shot on target against in the second half.

And the Republic defense saw out the match as they held out against Tulsa. In the buildup to the match, I thought Tulsa didn't have the firepower to break past this Republic backline. Apart from a couple of chances to spring an attack forward, Tulsa just couldn't get into a threatening position. Sacramento were the better side in the second half, and they came out on top in this one. All it takes is one goal, and that was the decider in this one. Next up is the conference semifinals as the El Paso Locomotive rolls into town. Onwards!

Coach Neill Collins on the match:

“I don't know if it's the privilege or the agony of watching all these playoff games prior to tonight, but they've all been very tough. I don't think there's been any game that's been more than one goal, and it was a very tough game tonight. But I thought that we got what we deserved. Thought it was a very cagey first half, but the second half performance was excellent, Pep [Casas] hit the bar. Had the goal disallowed, but we kept knocking away. We've scored a lot of late goals recently, and we got another one tonight. It was very hard earned. You won't find anyone in this stadium that holds Blake [Willey] in higher regard than myself. I think I've shown that the number of games that he's played here, and we've been pushing him really hard to add that to his game. And he's working hard, and then tonight it paid off. So I couldn't be happier for him.

Coach Collins on El Paso being the next opponent:

“I think next week we've got a very, very good football side coming here in El Paso. They play in some respects similar to us. They've got some very good players. Next week will be a very good game, a very tough game, but different to maybe the tactical side tonight.”

“If you ask the boys right now, they'll be ready to play tomorrow. That's the great thing about the playoffs. When you win a game, El Paso will feel the same, the momentum carries you, so they'll be ready. We're fit. We're strong. Yes, a day less to prepare, a couple of days, but I think we've got plenty of time to be ready for being at home, and they lose a day traveling, so it kind of evens itself out.”

Blake Willey on his goal:

“I just saw the ball pop out to me, and I was just thinking, like, keep it on target, and you give yourself a chance. There was a lot of Tulsa players on the line, but I just thought if I hit it hard and low, it could skip in.”

“I mean, this has to be number one. I can't think of anything more exciting. The adrenaline was rushing through me after that goal...this has to be my best moment in my career so far."

Key Takeaways:

• Tulsa played the referees. Sacramento played Tulsa.
• Blake Willey. The academy product. Scoring a goal to send his hometown side through into the next round. Isn't that what dreams are made of????
• I said we would need help from the supporting cast if the club wanted to go far. We didn't play our best. Memo Rodriguez was out. Kyle Edwards didn't score. But we did enough to get the job done and go through to the next round.

Sacramento Republic FC: 1 goal, 11 shots, 3 shots on target, 60.0% possession, 3 corners, 2 offsides, 4 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

FC Tulsa: 0 goals, 7 shots, 1 shot on target, 40.0% possession, 5 corners, 1 offside, 1 yellow card, 0 red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Jared Timmer, Michel Benitez, Jack Gurr, Mayele Malango (OUT, 90+'), Danny Crisostomo, Pep Casas, Mark-Anthony Kaye (OUT, 84'), Cal Jennings (OUT, 68'), Alfredo Midence (OUT, HT')

Republic FC Bench: Jacob Randolph, Aaron Essel, Freddy Kleeman, Tim Leibold, Ryan Spaulding (IN, 90+'), Blake Willey (IN, HT'), Reid Paskey, Kyle Edwards (IN, 68'), Forster Ajago (IN, 84')

Photos and quotes, thanks to Sacramento Republic FC.