SACRAMENTO, CA (Eagle News) — Despite the inclement weather, Sacramento Republic FC fans showed their support at Papa Murphy’s Park in Cal Expo with music and excitement against the Swope Park Rangers. Among them was Esteban Nava who mentioned that it was a very special night because it celebrated Hispanic Heritage Night in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Nava expressed how, “we should be more respectful of everything that everybody brings to the table,” which is exactly what the night showcased through the artwork from local artist, Anthony Padilla, as well as entertainment featuring Rene Infante, the son of Mexican cinema actor Pedro Infante.
In the second to last home game for the Sacramento, with both the Republic FC and the Park Rangers clinching playoff spots, this game would determine home-field advantage.
In the first half, Bulgarian soccer player, Villyan Bijen scored the first goal of the game giving Sacramento Republic FC the lead, but Tyler Blackwood of Swope Park Rangers answered with a goal and the first half ended with a tied score of 1-1.
“The first half it wasn’t quite the subtly we were looking for,” Republic FC, Coach Simon Elliott said. “When we didn’t have the ball we just tried to press every time and good teams will play through us.”
Republic FC started the second half strong with a goal by forward Cameron Iwasa. This was Iwasa’s 16th goal of the regular season. Iwasa said that this goal was “a credit to the service and all the rest of the guys.”
“If I am scoring headers then there are great crosses and I’m getting opportunities in that sense,” Iwasa said.
In the latter end of the second half, Slovenian soccer player, Jure Matjasic, sealed in Republic FC’s victory with a goal and a final score of 3-1.
Coach Elliott was pleased with how Sacramento finished the game strong.
“Second half, I thought we were better at picking our times to go,” Elliott said. “Our line of concentration was sometimes deeper, sometimes higher. I thought we did better in the second half with the ball, as well, just finding spaces in between the lines.”
One step closer to the playoffs, Elliott expressed his thoughts on the result of the game.
“We’re always happy with three points,” Elliot said. “We’re not always completely satisfied with the performance, but I thought tonight was pretty good.”
(Jennifer Madamba & Macy Membrere, EBC Sacramento Bureau, Eagle News Service)
