USL Sacramento Republic FC

Late Goal from Kibunguchy Earns Another Point on the Road

Published on July 25, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


IRVINE, California - Sacramento Republic FC returned from a much-needed 10-day break on Saturday night to steal a point at the death from Orange County SC in a 2-2 draw at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine.

The Boys in Old Glory Red looked to find an offensive spark from the first whistle. Cameron Iwasa nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute, taking a ball from the midfield and turning on a dime at the top of the box to open plenty of space for a point-blank shot.

Kharlton Belmar opened his 2021 account and broke the deadlock for the Indomitable Club in the 23rd minute. After playing a long ball from Hayden Sargis, Belmar played himself into space and found the far corner off his left foot. Sargis, who logged his first assist of the season on Saturday, impressed in his sixth start of the season with two interceptions and a game-high 10 clearances.

Orange County would continue to battle. Ronaldo Damus found the equalizer in the 32nd minute off the corner, a header from close range. Orange County went ahead in the 61st minute off the left foot of Brent Richards, assisted on the cross by Nathan Smith.

Republic FC's offensive press would continue until the referee's final whistle. Jerome Kiesewetter saw his first shot for the boys in Old Glory Red in the 47th minute before Iwasa's second shot of the night from a good angle was swallowed up with Kiesewetter waiting on the doorstep. Iwasa led the Republic FC with three shots on the night. Sacramento Republic got three shots in the final five minutes, but none bigger than a last-second goal from Nabi Kibunguchy to seal the 2-2 draw. The goal marks Kibunguchy's first pro goal, a special moment for the homegrown academy player. Second-half substitute Mitch Taintor served the cross to tally his first assist on the season.

The Indomitable Club is back on the pitch on Saturday, July 31 when they host New York Red Bulls II. Kickoff from Heart Health Park is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast locally on KQCA My58 and Estrella TV Sacramento, as well as streamed on ESPN+.

Sacramento Republic FC 2-2 Orange County SC

USL Championship

Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, California

July 24, 2021

Attendance:

Scoring Summary: SAC - Belmar (Sargis) 23'; OC - Dumas (Richards, Wehan) '32; OC - Richards (Smith) 61'; SAC - Kibunguchy (Taintor) 94'

Misconduct Summary: SAC - McCrary (caution) 59'; OC - Iloski (caution) 85'

Sacramento Republic FC: Tomas Gomez, Jordan McCrary (Mitchell Taintor 79'), Dan Casey, Hayden Sargis, Shannon Gomez, Mario Penagos, Pete Pennanen (Fatai Alashe 79'), Luis Felipe, Kharlton Belmar (Nabi Kibunguchy 90'), Jerome Kiesewetter, Cam Iwasa

Unused substitutes: Jesus Sanchez, Julian Chavez, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Rafael Jauregui

Stats - Shots: 9, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves 0, Fouls 12, Corner Kicks: 0, Offsides: 0.

Orange County SC: Patrick Rakovsky, Brent Richards, Rob Kiernan, Michael Orozco, Nathan Smith, Chris Wehan, Brian Iloski (Aidan Apodaca 86'), Thomas McCabe, Mikko Kuningas, Eric Calvillo, Ronaldo Dumas (Eero Markkanen 76')

Unused substitutes: Abraham Romero, Kobi Henry, Raymond Drai, Darwin Jones, , Sean McTague

Stats - Shots: 8, Shots on Goal: 2, Saves: 1, Fouls: 14, Corner Kicks: 4, Offsides: 1.

Check out the Sacramento Republic FC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 25, 2021


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