RENO, Nev. – Sacramento Republic FC rallied for a 2-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday at Greater Nevada Field, the future home of 2017 USL expansion side Reno 1868 FC. The game was the first USL regular-season match to be played in Nevada. Cameron Iwasa scored an equalizer and played a role in helping set up Adam Jahn’s tally to overcome a first-half deficit. Ricardo Velazco scored his sixth goal of the season for the Monarchs. The match also featured at halftime the reveal of Reno 1868 FC’s kit for next season. For the two current USL sides, Sacramento was officially the road team as the club improved to 6-3-3 (18 points) on the season. The Monarchs fell to 4-6-4 (16 points).

Scoring:
40’ – SLC – Ricardo Velazco
47’ – SAC – Cameron Iwasa (Emrah Klimenta)
55’ – SAC – Adam Jahn

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. One player who had some shaky moments in the early going but finally came through in the second half was Adam Jahn, who scored the go-ahead goal for Sacramento in the 55th minute. He had found himself offside in a couple instances and missed several other chances in both halves, but he stepped up during Sacramento’s run. Though Cameron Iwasa didn’t get an assist, Iwasa had the cross to set up the initial attempt by Jahn whose header went directly to Monarchs goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez. Jahn stuck with the rebound and placed it into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.

• 2. Sacramento came out of the gate to open the second half with a 47th-minute goal. Right back Emrah Klimenta made a push forward for a give-and-go with Octavio Guzman, received the ball back in the right corner and crossed in for Iwasa. Iwasa smoothly redirected with his right foot inside the left post to tie the score at 1-1. Iwasa took sole possession of the team goal-scoring lead with his third of the season.

• 3. Monarchs captain Ricardo Velazco put his finesse on display for the Reno fan base. In the 40th minute, Real progressed toward the net with Kevaughn Frater muscling off the Sacramento defense with his back to the goal initially. Frater turned and his shot was deflected away, but not far enough away from Velazco, who creatively used the outside of his right foot to poke a shot into the left of the frame for a 1-0 Monarchs lead heading into halftime. For Velazco, it was his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC – Iwasa netted the equalizer and was instrumental in the build-up toward Adam Jahn’s go-ahead tally.

Upcoming Games:
Real Monarchs SLC at Orange County Blues FC – June 18, 10 p.m. ET, Anteater Stadium
Sacramento Republic FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC – June 18, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field