USL United Soccer League Championship

Sacramento Takes Victory against Galaxy II

May 19, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rodrigo Lopez scored the winning goal as Sacramento Republic FC took a 2-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 20,231 at Hughes Stadium. The sellout was Republic FC's second in three games this season and saw Lopez's free kick with just more than 20 minutes to go hand the 10-man Galaxy II their second loss of the season.

Republic FC got off to a perfect start as Thomas Stewart deftly lobbed Galaxy II goalkeeper Cody Laurendi from 30 yards after a good through-ball by Harrison Delbridge in the seventh minute. The Galaxy II hit back nine minutes later, however, as Kyle Venter flicked home a header from Andre Auras' cross from the right.

Los Dos were reduced to 10 men seven minutes into the second half as Rafael Garcia was sent off after an altercation near the halfway line. Sacramento took advantage in the 69th minute as Lopez's free kick from just outside the penalty area found the right corner of the net.

Stewart came close to adding an insurance goal for Republic FC in stoppage time as his shot curled just wide of the right post. The Galaxy II had a pair of late chances from set pieces, but neither effort was able to find the target as Sacramento held on for victory.

FRIDAY

RICHMOND 4, OKLAHOMA CITY 1: The Richmond Kickers got goals from four different players as they swept to a convincing victory against OKC Energy FC in front of a sellout crowd of 3,916 at Pribil Stadium.

The Kickers grabbed the lead after only 21 seconds as Matt Delicate was able to put away the rebound of a shot by George Davis IV. Richmond doubled its advantage at the half-hour as William Yomby headed home a finish that just crossed the line before the Energy defense was able to clear.

The Energy had chances to get back into the game, and outshot the Kickers 13-11, but too few of the efforts were on target as Joe Willis was only forced into one save. Conversely, Richmond was decisive with its finishing and made it 3-0 just before the halftime break as Alex Lee converted after a great piece of work down the left by Davis IV. OKC got a goal back with nine minutes to go through Kyle Greig, but Michael Seaton soon restored the three-goal advantage as Richmond wrapped up victory.

SATURDAY

HARRISBURG 5, DAYTON 3: The Harrisburg City Islanders took their first victory and scored their first goal at Skyline Sports Complex this season as they erupted offensively to take victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions.

Dayton got off to a flying start and took the lead after only 37 seconds as Aaron Schoenfeld created space for himself in the penalty area and shot low into the left corner. A pair of goals by Clesio Bauque put the City Islanders on top, however, as he pulled the City Islanders level in the 19th minute and then curled home a free kick five minutes later for a 2-1 halftime lead.

The City Islanders added to their advantage two minutes after the break when Neil Shaffer roofed a finish after a corner had only been partially cleared, but Dayton roared back to level things as goals by Eli Garner and Schoenfeld's second made it 3-3 with 20 minutes to go. Morgan Langley proved the difference late, however, as he scored from close range with seven minutes to go and then sent home a finish from 70 yards with Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams off his line in stoppage time to put the game away.

ORLANDO 1, ARIZONA 0: Orlando City remained undefeated at the top of the USL PRO standings as it edged past Arizona United SC at the Peoria Sports Complex.

The only goal of the game came in the eighth minute as an angled low cross from the left by Adama Mbengue deflected off Arizona defender Bryan Gallego and looped over goalkeeper Evan Newton and into the back of the net. Both sides had chances to find the back of the net in a back-and-forth contest, with Orlando having a second goal twice ruled out for offside, but the lone goal was all the Lions needed to end United's three-game home undefeated streak.

ROCHESTER 1, PITTSBURGH 0: A goal by Alex Dixon proved the difference as the Rochester Rhinos extended their undefeated streak to seven games with victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium.

The goal arrived five minutes before halftime as a high ball sent into the penalty area was won by Chris Rolfe. The ball came to Dixon, who fired a shot into the top-right corner of the net. The Riverhounds tried to get back into the game but were stifled by a well-organized defense and goalkeeper John McCarthy, who recorded his league-leading fourth shutout of the season.

WILMINGTON 1, CHARLESTON 0: The Wilmington Hammerheads completed a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Charleston Battery as Jordan Hamilton's first professional goal earned victory at Legion Stadium.

Hamilton, on loan from Toronto FC, came on just past the hour mark and had an immediate impact as he controlled a cross-field pass by Steven Miller in stride, got past his man and sent a shot into the left side of the net. Both sides were reduced to 10 men four minutes later after Wilmington's Quillan Roberts and Charleston's Shawn Ferguson were sent off after an altercation at midfield, but Hammerheads backup goalkeeper Matt Glaeser was not seriously tested as his side claimed all three points.

SUNDAY

CHICAGO RESERVES 0, RICHMOND 0: Joe Willis' 90th-minute penalty save earned the Richmond Kickers a point as they drew with the Chicago Fire Reserves at Toyota Park.

The Kickers came close to taking an early lead when Luke Vercollone's header clipped the outside of the left post in just the second minute. The Fire Reserves had the better chances for much of the game, however, and D.C. United loanee Willis was solid throughout as he made good saves to deny Orr Barouch and Chris Ritter.

Richmond almost grabbed a late winner in the 86th minute when Michael Seaton was played into the left side of the penalty area, but Alec Kann made a good stop to deny him. Two minutes later, Richmond gave up a penalty as Giuseppe Gentile was brought down in the penalty area. Willis got down well to his left to deny Barouch's penalty kick, however, as the game ended scoreless.

SEATTLE RESERVES 1, ORANGE COUNTY 0: Cam Weaver had the only goal as the Seattle Sounders Reserves took victory against the Orange County Blues FC at Starfire Sports Complex.

The Sounders Reserves had much the better of the contest, and Blues goalkeeper Patrick McLain was regularly called upon to keep his side in the game. Weaver and Sean Okoli both went close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but the goal finally arrived with 17 minutes to go as Okoli's pass found Weaver near the penalty spot for a good low finish. Gabriel Gonzales had a chance to tie the game for the Blues with nine minutes to go, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Aaron Kovar as Orange County suffered its seventh loss of the season.

STANDINGS

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Orlando City 10 7 0 3 17 8 24

LA Galaxy II 10 5 2 3 19 13 18

Richmond Kickers 9 4 1 4 22 10 16

Rochester Rhinos 8 3 1 4 8 6 13

Sacramento Republic FC 8 4 3 1 14 10 13

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 6 3 1 2 6 5 11

Charleston Battery 10 2 4 4 10 8 10

Arizona United SC 7 3 3 1 6 12 10

Charlotte Eagles 7 3 4 0 10 9 9

Orange County Blues 10 3 7 0 10 18 9

Dayton Dutch Lions FC 8 2 4 2 8 17 8

Harrisburg City Islanders 7 2 4 1 8 14 7

OKC Energy FC 8 2 6 0 11 15 6

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7 0 4 3 7 12 3

RESULTS

Friday, May 16

Richmond 4, Oklahoma City 1

Saturday, May 17

Harrisburg 5, Dayton 3

Rochester 1, Pittsburgh 0

Wilmington 1, Charleston 0

Orlando 1, Arizona 0

Sacramento 2, LA Galaxy II 1

Sunday, May 18

Seattle Reserves 1, Orange County 0

Chicago Reserves 0, Richmond 0

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 21

Orlando vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. ET

Friday, May 23

Wilmington vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET

Rochester vs. Sacramento, 7:35 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 24

Richmond vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET

Charleston vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET

Arizona vs. Chivas USA Reserves, 10 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 25

Dayton vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m. ET

LA Galaxy II vs. Oklahoma City, 11 p.m. ET

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