SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five years after helping write a remarkable chapter in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with Cal FC, Danny Barrera took center stage again in the historic tournament as he led Sacramento Republic FC to a 4-1 victory against Real Salt Lake in front of a sellout crowd of 11,569 at Papa Murphy’s Park in the Fourth Round of the 2017 tournament on Wednesday night.

Barrera provided first-half assists on goals by Trevin Caesar and Agustin Cazarez before adding a goal of his own in the second half. Jeremy Hall scored the third for Republic FC from the penalty spot to send the side through to the Fifth Round of the Open Cup for the first time in club history. The draw for the Fifth Round will be made on Thursday.

Republic FC threatened immediately off the opening kickoff, as Harry Williams' redirection from Barrera’s flicked cross into the center of the penalty area was comfortably saved by RSL goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez. Sacramento continued to carry more possession as Real looked to hit on the counter-attack, but the visitors went close on a free kick by Sebastian Saucedo in the 16th minute that curled just over.

Sacramento began to build pressure through a series of corner kicks, and in the 29th minute the hosts went ahead. After holding possession in after a half-cleared set piece, a deep cross by James Kiffe was knocked back across goal by Barrera, and knocked home by Caesar in the center of the penalty area.

Real responded positively, and found an equalizer six minutes later. A pass intercepted by Omar Holness in midfield was quickly sent forward to Ricardo Velazco. The former Real Monarchs SLC standout created space 20 yards from goal and fired low into the left corner of the net.

Sacramento regained the lead two minutes before halftime, though, as Barrera picked up his second assist of the night. After a corner kick was cleared, Republic FC recycled possession wide to the left to its playmaker, and his cross to the near post was nodded home by Cazerez into the right corner of the net. Moments later, Caesar was brought down in the penalty area to give Republic FC a chance to add to their lead just before the break. Hall stepped up and buried his shot low into the left corner, sending Fernandez the wrong way.

RSL came out far more brightly to start the second half, as U.S. U20 international Brooks Lennon came on to try and provide a spark. The visitors almost saw the ball fall their way in the penalty area after a corner kick, only for Sacramento to get the ball out five minutes in, while Kiffe was needed to make a good clearance when Velazco threatened again in the 59th minute.

As Real’s efforts to close the gap bore little fruit, Barrera added to his standout performance with Republic FC’s fourth of the night with 19 minutes to go. After a good spell of pressure was briefly relieved, Kiffe picked up possession on the left, and picked out an unmarked Barrera in the center of the penalty area for a glanced header into the right corner of the net.

Sacramento almost added another with 13 minutes to go as Tyler Blackwood’s clipped finish over an advancing Fernandez from the right side of the penalty area slowed enough to allow RSL defender James Moberg to knock the ball behind for a corner. Christian Chaney twice almost found the net too for Republic FC, first with two minutes to go off a fizzing low cross by Gabe Gissie and then after a long ball forward by Hall, but Barrera’s goal had already provided the knockout blow, sending Sacramento to victory against MLS opposition in the tournament for the first time in club history.