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Iwasa’s Blast Hands Republic FC Victory against Blues

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/25/16, 12:32AM EDT

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Long-range finish earns Sacramento 1-0 victory in Orange County


Photo courtesy Liza Rosales / Orange County Blues FC

IRVINE, Calif. – Cameron Iwasa scored the only goal of the game as Sacramento Republic FC moved into sole possession of first place in the USL Western Conference with a 1-0 victory against Orange County Blues FC on Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium. Neither side was able to create much in the way of scoring chances in the opening half-hour as the defenses remained well organized, but both Danny Barrera and Matt LaGrassa had shots from long range for Republic FC comfortably saved by Blues goalkeeper Josh Cohen. Barrera had another shot from the top of the penalty area saved 10 minutes into the second half saved as Republic FC had a good spell of pressure, and with 14 minutes to go Cameron Iwasa scored with a blistering shot from 25 yards that found the left corner of the net. Republic FC goalkeeper Evan Newton made a pair of big saves in stoppage time to deny the Blues a late equalizer, as Sacramento moved three points clear at the top of the Western Conference standings.

Scoring: 
76’ – SAC – Cameron Iwasa

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. As few and far between as the chances proved in the game, it was going to take something special for either side to find a breakthrough on Wednesday night, and Cameron Iwasa did just that with an outstanding finish in the 76th minute that found the left corner of the net past Blues goalkeeper Josh Cohen. The goal also gave Iwasa his 11th goal of the season, tying the Republic FC single-season record set by Tommy Stewart in the 2014 season, and continued the forward’s recent hot streak with his fourth goal in the past three games.

  • 2. Orange County was looking to break a streak of following victories with defeats on Wednesday night, but was unable to hold out despite being very well organized defensively for most of the night. The Blues didn’t quite create enough in the attacking third, however, and with only four games remaining in their regular season could now come under strong pressure from the teams sitting just below them in seventh place in the final few weeks of the regular season.

  • 3. The victory moved Republic FC into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference at the end of the night, and set up another big game this Saturday night against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Bonney Field. With WFC2 now three points back in the standings, Sacramento could take a firm hold on its position with a fourth consecutive victory on Saturday night, particularly with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Rio Grande Valley FC also set to square off in a meeting of the two other teams currently sitting in the top four of the Western Conference standings.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC – Iwasa’s 11th goal of the season – which tied the club’s single-season goal-scoring record – was an outstanding finish, and proved decisive in the battle between the California rivals.

Upcoming Games:

Orange County Blues FC at Sacramento Republic – Sept. 3, 10:30 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – August 27, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

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