Cameron Iwasa's Record-Matching Goal Helps Lift Republic FC Past Reno 1868 FC
August 26, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Sacramento Republic FC midfielder Jeremy Hall looks for a pass
(Sacramento Republic FC)
RENO, Nev. - A pair of second-half goals from Cameron Iwasa and Wilson Kneeshaw gave Sacramento Republic FC a 2-1 win on the road over rivals Reno 1868 FC on Saturday night.
Republic FC switched up their tactical approach for this match, kicking off in a 3-4-3 formation with Elliott Hord and Shannon Gomez as wingbacks in the four-man midfield, while Iwasa, playing centrally in the front three, would drop deeper than his counterparts.
Despite the new system, it was the home side that dominated the early part of the half.
Reno nearly went ahead in the 18th minute when Brian Brown outmuscled two Sacramento defenders in the box to get on the end of a cross and head a shot on goal that forced a diving save from Josh Cohen.
The visitors grew into the match, however, and gave Reno a scare when Elliott Hord placed a cross from distance in the 36th minute that curled toward the far post and required JT Marcinkowski to peddle back to tip it over the bar.
A minute later, Marcinkowski was called into action again when Cameron Iwasa fired a shot from distance and forced the San Jose Earthquakes Homegrown Player to dive and parry the ball away from goal.
Jerry Van Ewijk responded in turn a long-range effort that Cohen had to get low to save to keep the sides level entering halftime.
Iwasa broke the deadlock just a minute into the second half. Mitchell Taintor whipped in a deep cross to an unmarked Iwasa in the box. The forward perfectly struck his header toward the far post to record his 12th goal of the season and give Sacramento the lead. The goal matched the club's single-season goal scoring record, which Iwasa set in 2016.
Kneeshaw doubled Republic FC's advantage in the 60th minute when he took on Will Seymore outside the box and cut around the Reno defender to rifle a low, weighted shot past a diving Marcinkowski.
Reno was awarded a penalty kick in the 74th minute after Emrah Klimenta brought down Brown in the box. Seth Casiple stepped up to the spot, and although Cohen guessed the direction of the kick correctly, the midfielder slotted it home to cut back the deficit to a goal.
Antoine Hoppenot nearly drew his side level with three minutes left in the match after firing a powerful effort from distance that went just wide of the post.
Cohen then ensured Republic FC returned home with all three points, making an acrobatic save in stoppage time to deny Zach Carroll the equalizer. The Reno captain made a surging run from the center line before firing a shot from the edge of the box toward the upper corner of the net, but Cohen reacted well to leap and tip the ball over the bar.
The win broke a two-match losing streak and marked Republic FC's first league win against Reno 1868 FC since the Nevadan side began play last year.
Sacramento will have a week off before return to action on September 8 at home against Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Reno 1868 FC 1:2 Sacramento Republic FC
USL Match
Greater Nevada Field - Reno, NV
August 25, 2018 - Attendance: 7,103
Scoring Summary: SAC - Cameron Iwasa (Mitchell Taintor) 47, Wilson Kneeshaw 60; RNO - Seth Casiple (P) 75.
Misconduct Summary: SAC - Mitchell Taintor (caution) 5; RNO - Zach Carroll (caution) 30
Sacramento Republic FC - Josh Cohen, Emrah Klimenta (Justin Schmidt 80), Jeremy Hall, Mitchell Taintor, Elliott Hord, Adam Moffat (Keven Aleman 85), Hayden Partain (Christian Eissele 73), Shannon Gomez, Wilson Kneeshaw, Cameron Iwasa, Villyan Bijev.
Subs Not Used: Thomas Olsen, Luis Espino, Quincy Butler, Cole Seiler.
Stats: Shots: 7, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 5, Fouls: 11, Corner Kicks: 5, Offsides: 3.
Reno 1868 FC - JT Marcinkowski, Zach Carroll, Thomas Janjigian, Duke Lacroix, Brent Richards, Guy Abend (Will Seymore 58), Seth Casiple, Antoine Hoppenot, Jerry Van Ewijk (Brenton Griffiths 72), Brain Brown, Mo Thiaw (Gilbert Fuentes 67).
Subs Not Used: Kyle Ihn, Jordan Murrell, Sam Gleadle, Mark Gonzalez.
Stats: Shots: 15, Shots on Goal: 6, Saves: 1, Fouls: 8, Corner Kicks: 5, Offsides: 0.
Images from this story
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