SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC and the LA Galaxy II both held the lead, but the California rivals ended in a 2-2 draw in front of a sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Bonney Field on Saturday night. After a scoreless first half, Republic FC took the lead six minutes after the break as a good cross by Emrah Klimenta found Danny Barrera for a headed finish. Los Dos (5-2-6, 21pts) got back on level terms six minutes later though, as Jose Villarreal set up brother Jaime Villarreal for his first goal of the season from the left for a near-post finish. Things only got better for the Galaxy II moments later, as Jose Villarreal picked the pocket of Republic FC’s Derek Foran and finished on a breakaway to give the visitors the lead. Sacramento (4-3-3, 15pts) hit back with nine minutes to go as Daniel Trickett-Smith scored his first goal for Republic FC, and while the young Englishman was sent off in stoppage time, his goal stood as the equalizer as honors ended even.

Scoring:
51’ – SAC – Danny Barrera (Emrah Klimenta)
57’ – LA – Jaime Villarreal (Jose Villarreal)
58’ – LA – Jose Villarreal
81’ – SAC – Daniel Trickett-Smith (James Kiffe)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Once again, Republic FC and the Galaxy II put on a tremendous display in a game that had everything you could hope for from a rivalry of this kind. Between the back and forth in the scoreline, the physical intensity of both teams, and the remarkable backdrop of another sellout crowd at Bonney Field, the latest chapter in the rivalry between the two clubs more than lived up to some of the classics we’ve seen in the past.

• 2. As disappointed as Galaxy II Coach Curt Onalfo would have been with his defense losing Barrera for Republic FC’s opener, he must have been delighted with his side’s response. The Galaxy II quickly refocused, as a beautiful cross and finish by Jose and Jaime Villarreal quickly got the visitors back on level terms, and then a heads-up piece of play by Jose Villarreal gave them the lead in the space of a minute to give Los Dos the upper hand.

• 3. Sacramento used its substitutions as you would have expected, and the presence of San Jose Earthquakes loanee Adam Jahn proved a handful for the Galaxy II defense in the final half-hour. It was the introduction of Daniel Trickett-Smith that proved the trump card for Coach Paul Buckle, though, as his header with nine minutes to go leveled the score with his first goal for the club, and set up a grandstand finish between these two rivals.  

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Jose Villarreal, LA Galaxy II – The standout attacking midfielder first created the opening goal for Los Dos for his brother Jaime, and then added a goal of his own to put the Galaxy II ahead before Sacramento’s late comeback.

Upcoming Games:

June 8: Sacramento Republic FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field | ESPN3

June 11: LA Galaxy II vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 10:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center