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USL Sacramento Republic FC

10-man Republic FC unable to find the goal, falling 1-0 to Portland Timbers 2

April 17, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


Sacramento Republic FC Clipped by Portland Timbers 2
Sacramento Republic FC Clipped by Portland Timbers 2
(Sacramento Republic FC)

Sacramento Republic FC (2-1-1, 7 pts) dropped their first match of the 2016 USL season after an early second half goal that helped Portland Timbers 2 (1-3-0, 3 pts) capture their first win of the season. Republic FC were unable to equalize after going down a man in the 75th minute.

After the kickoff whistle, Republic FC quickly established an aggressive role as they looked to find an early goal. Despite the early pressure, the best chance of the first half for Republic FC did not occur until the 31st minute. Forward Cameron Iwasa received the ball wide open on the left side of the pitch and turned toward goal. Iwasa took the ball toward the top left corner of the box before sending a low driven shot toward the back post, but T2 goalkeeper Wade Hamilton was able to dive to his left and parry the ball away from danger keeping the match scoreless, where it would stay until halftime.

T2 wasted no time getting on the board in the second half, scoring just seconds after kickoff. Forward Kharlton Belmar made a hard challenge on Republic FC defender Derek Foran, leaving him one-on-one with Dominik Jakubek. Belmar drove right at the onrushing Jakubek before sending a curled shot into the right side of the goal, which putT2 ahead 1-0.

Republic FC looked to respond to the early T2 goal with intense offensive pressure. In the 63rd minute second half substitute Tommy Thompson had two of the best chances on goal for Republic FC in the second half. The first chance came when Iwasa sent the ball into the middle of the box where Thompson chested the ball to his feet before sending a bicycle kick toward goal, which beat Hamilton but was saved off the line but defender Brent Richards. Richard's save however went right back to the feet of Iwasa who again sent the ball into the middle and again Thompson beat the keeper, but midfielder Nick Besler was hustling back toward goal and was able to save the ball off the line preserving T2's slim 1-0 lead.

In the 75th minute Thompson once again almost equalized for Republic FC after T2 defender Taylor Peay slipped trying to clear a James Kiffe cross. The ball deflected off Peay and fell to Thompson who was the intended target of the cross in the middle of the box. Thompson sent a low hard shot toward goal, but Hamilton made a fantastic diving save. Despite the save, the ball went through Hamilton's arm and rolled toward goal. Substitute forward Adam Jahn attempted to win the loose ball, but the keeper got to the ball first causing a collision that was deemed malicious by the official, resulting in Jahn being shown a red card and being sent off.

A 10-man Republic FC would continue to pressure T2's backline, but was unable to find an equalizer, giving them their first loss of the season. Republic FC will return home to face Saint Louis FC on Saturday, Apr. 23. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

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Sacramento Republic FC Vies for Possession vs. Portland Timbers 2
Sacramento Republic FC Vies for Possession vs. Portland Timbers 2
 Sacramento Republic FC Chases Portland Timbers 2
Sacramento Republic FC Chases Portland Timbers 2
 Sacramento Republic FC Clipped by Portland Timbers 2
Sacramento Republic FC Clipped by Portland Timbers 2



United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 17, 2016


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