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USL Sacramento Republic FC

Match Preview: Republic FC Travel to Arizona to Take on Drogba's Phoenix Rising FC

May 18, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


Sacramento Republic FC press Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC press Phoenix Rising FC
(Sacramento Republic FC)

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Sacramento Republic FC play their third game in a week when they travel to Arizona to take on Phoenix Rising FC in USL play on Saturday, May 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on KQCA My58, Estrella TV 58.3, ESPN+.

Saturday's matchup will be the first between the two sides in the 2018 season. Sacramento and Phoenix both entered the USL together in 2014, although Phoenix was then known as Arizona United SC. Sacramento holds a 5-2-3 record with a 12-9 advantage on goals all-time in this matchup, but only an even 1-1-0 split with goals tied 3-3 since the club became Phoenix Rising FC.

Republic FC enter the matchup after advancing to the Third Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-1 victory over San Francisco City FC. Keven Aleman, Villyan Bijev and Adam Moffat all tallied goals in the match. Republic will travel to Nevada to take on Reno 1868 FC on Wednesday, May 23rd. The two clubs squared off last Saturday in USL play in Sacramento, with Reno taking a 3-2 victory. Republic FC took a 2-0 lead in the 12th minute behind goals from Jure Matjasic and Cameron Iwasa. Reno scored three goals in five minutes early in the second half and Republic FC could not recover. The loss was the clubs first at home and it moved their record to 5-2-3.

Phoenix Rising FC also enter this match having played in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. Phoenix fell in penalty kicks to Sporting Arizona FC of the United Premier Soccer League. In USL play, Phoenix is coming off an emphatic 5-1 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC last Saturday. Didier Drogba, player-owner and noted accomplished footballer, earned USL Team of the Week honors as he scored a brace on Saturday, including a goal of the year candidate with a 40+ yard free kick. Chris Cortez and Solomon Asante have both accounted for the offense, along with Drogba. Former Republic FC defender Mike da Fonte has started 10 matches for Phoenix Rising FC. Phoenix is led by Head Coach Patrice Carteron, a veteran of Ligue 1 in France as both a player and coach. Carteron is in his second season as Phoenix Head Coach.

Updates on the match will be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or by following #PHXvSAC. To see more matchday information, visit SacRepublicFC.com/matchday-guide.

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Images from this story

Sacramento Republic FC possess the ball vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC possess the ball vs. Phoenix Rising FC
 Sacramento Republic FC scramble for a loose ball vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC scramble for a loose ball vs. Phoenix Rising FC
 Sacramento Republic FC press Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC press Phoenix Rising FC



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 18, 2018


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