SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Early in the season, as Sacramento Republic FC looked to build a new attacking identity with the departure of key figures from the club’s first two seasons, there were some bumps in the road.

After a second consecutive performance that saw the side notch four goals in a 4-0 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 in front of a sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Bonney Field on Saturday night, however, the team’s creativity and threat might be at an all-time high.

“I was proud of the players,” said Republic FC Head Coach Paul Buckle after the game. “We sort of carried on where we left off [against Saint Louis FC] in terms of our intent to go and attack. It made it an open game, and it was probably a little more open than I would’ve liked at times, but we needed to win the game. We wanted to stay top and I think we showed that.”

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As in the side’s victory on the road against Saint Louis last Saturday, Sacramento struck early and took control of the game after just four minutes. A clever chipped cross by Danny Barrera from the top-right side of the penalty area found Tommy Thompson, whose header back across goal hung perfectly for Mike Da Fonte to record his fourth goal of the season.

On loan again from the San Jose Earthquakes, Thompson was again a standout performer as his understanding with Barrera and Cameron Iwasa continued to manifest itself. The trio combined to double the lead in the final minute of the first half, when Thompson’s pass to Barrera saw the USL assists leader slip a pass through to Iwasa as he beat the T2 defense’s high line. The forward needed two bites at the cherry, but put away his 10th goal of the regular season.

“[T2] were playing a highline the whole game so we made them pay for it,” Iwasa said. “Danny with a good through ball in. I was actually going for the nutmeg, but [T2 goalkeeper Wade Hamilton] did a pretty good job of keeping his legs closed. I got a fortunate bounce and I think that’s the first I’ve ever scored in my life with my stomach. I’ll take them anyway I can get them.”

T2’s high line came into play again three minutes into the second half when a free kick over the top by Barrera found Thompson in behind. The former U.S. U20 international controlled perfectly with his first touch, and then rounded Hamilton for his third goal for Sacramento this season. Thompson and Iwasa continued to threaten until both were removed for substitutes late on, earning a standing ovation from the fans.

“They are two intelligent footballers,” said Buckle. “They play with a lot of flair. I think Cameron’s game has come up. We played him up front tonight, we played him on the right, we played him in the middle of the pitch. When you play with [Jeremy] Hall or Alfonso [Motagalvan] sitting back you can be a bit more dynamic with Iwasa and Thompson up front. And I think good players play well together and they are both good players.”

Republic FC’s victory moved it at least for the moment into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference ahead of contests for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday afternoon. Now one goal away from tying Republic FC’s single-season scoring record, Iwasa said reaching double-digit goals for the season was nice, but taking a key win in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference was more important.

“There’s five or six games left and it seems like we’re peaking at the right time,” Iwasa said. “That’s huge.”

With new addition Wilson Kneeshaw also getting in on the act late on with a goal in his debut for the side, and the attacking options provided by former Premier League forward Carlton Cole and PDL standout Christian Chaney still to be unveiled, Republic FC’s attack is taking on the look of a championship contender.

“I think we have the most attacking team I’ve ever fielded,” said Buckle.