USL Game Report

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Propelled by a spectacular brace from Rodrigo Lopez, and buoyed by a sellout crowd of 10,906 fans, Sacramento Republic FC won its second consecutive game at home Wednesday night, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 by a score of 2-0.

Lopez scored on either side of the halftime whistle, including a remarkable 60-yard strike from his own defensive half to give Sacramento a two-goal lead.

After a slow start to the first half for Republic FC, the home side kicked into gear in the 16th minute, creating their first real chance when forward David Estrada and midfielder Lopez played a give-and-go right outside the penalty area. Estrada chipped the ball past the defense to Lopez, but his shot was saved by Whitecaps FC 2 keeper Spencer Richey.

Republic FC would find the back of the net in the 32nd minute when Lopez stole the ball in the middle of the pitch and sent a pass to Estrada out wide. Estrada drew the defense toward him and calmly slid the ball back across to Lopez, who calmly finished from close range to take a 1-0 lead.

In the 41st minute, Whitecaps FC 2 forward Victor Blasco streaked past the Republic FC defense after a great through ball, but he was unable to convert the one-on-one opportunity, and Republic FC goalkeeper Patrick McLain parried the shot away wth a nice diving stop.

McLain was called into action again at the start of the second half. In the 58th minute, Whitecaps FC 2 forward Mackenzie Pridham sent a driven shot to McLain’s right that the keeper had to dive to parry away for a corner.

In the 71st minute Republic FC would strike again, in spectacular fashion. Lopez received the ball just behind the midfield line in his own half, and seeing Richey well off his goal line, set his sights on goal. Without hesitation, Lopez sent a right-footed strike toward goal, and Richey was unable to recover in time as the shot sailed perfectly into the back of the net, putting Republic FC up 2-0.

“I said at halftime, the wind was blowing pretty hard and I told Justin [Braun], I’m going to see if the goalie’s cheating to see if I could catch him off his line,” Lopez said of his second half goal. “I looked up and I went for it and it went in. One of the best goals of my career, for sure.”

“Overall I thought the first half, we didn’t start too well, but then we picked up the tempo,” Republic FC head coach Preki said. “In the last 25 minutes we were pretty good.”

Sacramento Republic FC moves to 3-2-0 in the USL season and remains unbeaten at home. They will be back in action on Saturday April 18 when they take on Portland Timbers FC 2 at Bonney Field.