Three Takeaways from #SACvRGV
August 8, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Rio Grande Valley FC came to Heart Health Park rested and well prepared to challenge the Quails on Saturday. The Toros' put Sacramento in tough positions, but the club still managed to claim a point to close out a grueling stretch undefeated, utilizing the entire roster to climb the Western Conference Table.
5 for 5, in 15 Days
Saturday's match marked the end of quite possibly the toughest stretch of the season for Sacramento - five matches in 15 days, three of them being tough road assignments, and almost 8,000 miles of travel. The result against the Toros put Sacramento on the back end unbeaten, claiming draws against Phoenix and Rio Grande Valley and defeating Sporting KC, New Mexico United, and Charleston Battery. In that time, they have jumped from seventh in the table to one point out of fourth and four points from a spot in the top three.
"Five games in 15 days is not easy when you're traveling around," said Jack Gurr after the match. "But no excuses. These teams do the same thing as us as well. We just have that grit and determination not to lose, and we're fighting all the way till the end to even get the win. So I think that's just our mentality and our togetherness. We just don't want to lose."
When it Mattered Most
It was a tough night for Republic FC up top - the club claimed the ball just three times in the attacking third and posted their second-lowest expected goals rating of the entire season. Republic FC generated a few chances early as Luther Archimede, Ferrety Sousa, and Emil Cuello provided some fresh legs and early threats. But for a majority of the first half, the Toros had Sacramento on their heels, holding the edge in possession and keeping a majority of the action in their offensive half. When pressure started to mount late in the game, Sacramento got to work.
With stoppage time approaching, Sacramento needed a goal to salvage the night. They got just that as the clock ticked to 89 minutes, when Jack Gurr put in another fantastic cross when the moment demanded it the most. The score was the club's ninth in the final 15 minutes of a match this season in league play and 12th across all competitions. It also marked Gurr's second assist of the season and first since June 25 against Monterey Bay F.C., also a cross into the penalty area.
Squad Depth
Playing their fourth straight contest on just three days of rest, Mark Briggs showed a bit of a rotated squad against the Toros. But granting 17-year-old Tiago Suarez and new loan addition Josh Bauer their first home starts, while resting a few regulars didn't keep the club from keeping the match within reach. It's been a theme of the past two weeks - needing every member of the squad to step up - while using over 20 unique players and seeing a few academy names get their first taste of first-team action.
"We've had to rotate quite a lot and we've had to try and keep the team as fresh as it possibly can be," said Mark Briggs. "It's been hard on everybody. But throughout that stretch, we're unbeaten. So the guys have done us proud and we've just got to keep going."
United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 8, 2022
- Monterey Bay F.C. Looks Back on Health & Wellness Night, Presented by Montage Health - Monterey Bay FC
- OCSC Issues Statement - Orange County SC
- Three Takeaways from #SACvRGV - Sacramento Republic FC
- Republic FC & Land Park Soccer Club Partner to Make an Impact on & off the Pitch - Sacramento Republic FC
- Why Milan Iloski's July Form Was Historic - Orange County SC
- New York Red Bulls II Add Defender Yostin Salinas on Loan from Sporting Football Club - New York Red Bulls II
- Memphis 901 FC Signs Defender Jackson Brady - Memphis 901 FC
- Match Preview: ATL UTD 2 vs. New York Red Bulls II - Atlanta United 2
- Republic FC's Luis Felipe Wins July 2022 Fans' Choice Goal of the Month - Sacramento Republic FC
- FC Tulsa to Host $1 Beer Night During Next Three Home Matches - FC Tulsa
- Inside the Match: New York Red Bulls II vs. Atlanta United 2 - New York Red Bulls II
- United Announce the Return of Club Legend Kevaughn Frater - New Mexico United
- El Paso Locomotive FC Signs Midfielder Artem Kholod for Remainder of 2022 USL Championship Season - El Paso Locomotive FC
- A Message from Chairman Bruce Mandell to Our Fans - Hartford Athletic
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