SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC and CD Guadalajara battled to an exciting 1-1 draw in an international exhibition on Wednesday night in front of lively crowd at Bonney Field.

After enjoying most of the possession in the first 15 minutes of the match, Chivas opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Strong offensive possession led to a corner, from which defender Miguel Ponce sent the corner into the penalty area, where forward Marco Bueno had beat his defender and sent a header toward goal. The shot soared past Republic FC keeper Dominik Jakubek and into the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead by the visitors.

Republic FC equalized in the 36th minute when forward Wilson Kneeshaw attacked the middle of the defense before laying the ball off for a charging Danny Barrera. The captain took a first-time, left-footed shot that curled up and over the defense and past a fully out-stretched Chivas keeper Miguel Jimenez. The shot was perfectly placed and leveled the match at 1-1 going into the break.

Chivas came close to taking the lead in the 64th minute when midfielder Eduardo Lopez threatened up the middle of the field. Lopez showed his dribbling class as he got past the Republic FC midfield and promptly sent a shot on goal. The left-footed strike dipped quickly on goal but Jakubek was in good position to make a one-handed leaping save, sending the shot over the bar.

Republic FC nearly found a winner in the 86th minute. Midfielder Octavio Guzman attacked up the right wing and sent a cross into the box that found the head of forward Mackenzie Pridham. The forward sent a powerful header on goal that Jimenez made the save on, but the shot powered off the crossbar and to the feet of Christian Chaney. The forward was able to send a shot on goal that Jimenez again parried away, only to roll to the oncoming Agustin Cazarez. The midfielder sent a third strike at the goal, only to have it blocked away by two Chivas defenders for a corner kick. 

• RELATED: Republic FC Featured in ‘The Movement’

“This was a great way to cap off the season,” said Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle. “We have to be proud that we were able to get to their goal a few times.  I am delighted that we got a draw, I did not want to lose and I think everyone got a lot out of it, including the fans.”

The match ended in a 1-1 draw against a Chivas squad that featured many first team players, including Carlos Peña, Jair Pereira and José Vazquez, ending Republic FC’s season on a high note.