Republic FC Cruises past Valley 559 FC and into U.S. Open Cup Third Round
USL Sacramento Republic FC

Republic FC Cruises past Valley 559 FC and into U.S. Open Cup Third Round

Published on April 1, 2026 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


On a rainy night in Clovis, California, The Indomitable Club claimed its spot in the Round of 32 in the 111th U.S. Open Cup. Republic FC held the advantage all night against Valley 559 FC in a 4-0 win. A trio of goal scorers would put the evening out of reach with four more players making their first team debut for Republic FC. Kyle Edwards notched the second brace of the tournament for Republic FC. Dominik Wanner ended the night with a goal and a pair of assists. Captain Lee Desmond put the first goal on the board and kept the Quails ahead with a stellar goal line clearance in the first half.

Brandon Cambridge, Sergio Rivas, and academy products Jackson Montero and Luke Strassburg all made their debut for the Quails - with Cambridge tallying an assist. Montero and Strassburg are the 18th and 19th players from the club's youth development academy to pull on the first team shirt and play for their hometown - the only amateur to pro pathway in the region. To close out the match, Republic FC's young corps of players - four players 20-years-old and younger - closed out the match to retain the clean sheet.

Early on in the match, Republic FC looked to put its stamp on the game. The Quails took the game to Valley's back line. In the 11th minute, Republic FC would capitalize on a corner. Michel Benitez would put the ball in play from the left side. While Republic FC wouldn't put away the first chance, Dominik Wanner would help get the Quails on the board. Wanner's recycled cross went back into the mixer where Captain Lee Desmond drove home a header for the opening score of the match.

The second score was a direct example of the Indomitable Club's control on the first half. After a foul and restart, Republic FC strung together 11 passes, building through the backline and across the field. Quick combo play from Pep Casas and Michel Benitez created an opportunity for Kyle Edwards to break the defense down with a through ball to Dominik Wanner. Along the left side, Wanner's streaking solo efforted ended in the box with a left footed strike into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Republic FC would find its third of the night. In his first start for the Indomitable Club, Aaron Essel picked out debutant Brandon Cambridge on the right side. With a slicing touch, Cambridge found Kyle Edwards streaking toward the front post and with a clinical finish, Republic FC would take a three-goal lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, it was more of the same from Republic FC. Throughout the top of the second half, the Indomitable Club continued to maintain possession and look for chances. After the first set of changes for Republic FC at the 63rd minute mark, the Quails would strike again. With his first touch of the game, Freddy Kleeman sprung an attack for a backline clearance to another substitute, Forster Ajago. The forward would pick out Wanner once again, who threaded a ball through to Kyle Edwards for another clinical finish.

The win marked more history for Republic FC. In 11 tournament appearances, the club has reached the Third Round every year. The night was also special for the club's youth development program. In addition to Blake Willey and Chibi Ukaegbu, Jackson Montero and Luke Strassburg logged important minutes in their first team debut. The pair of academy graduates are the 18th and 19th players from the club's academy to represent Republic FC in a competitive match.

The Indomitable Club will find out its next opponent on Thursday morning when U.S. Soccer hosts the live draw for the Round of 32/16 groups on CBS Sports Golazo Network at 6:00 a.m. PT.

Republic FC now turns its attention back to league play with a home match against Phoenix Rising FC this Saturday. Kickoff from Heart Health Park is at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are still available at SacRepublicFC.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 1, 2026


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