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Caesar’s Hat Trick Fires Sacramento

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/22/17, 1:14AM EDT

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Crowd of 11,569 sees Republic FC attack hit top speed in 6-2 victory against Toros


Photo courtesy Douglas Taylor / Sacramento Republic FC

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Trevin Caesar had a hat trick and a highlight-reel assist to lead Sacramento Republic FC to a 6-2 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 in front of a sellout crowd of 11,569 at Papa Murphy’s Park on Wednesday night. Sacramento’s Tyler Blackwood had the first clear chance for the hosts, but his shot went straight at RGVFC goalkeeper Borja Angoitia in the 11th minute. Republic FC (6-6-3, 21pts) threatened again three minutes later as Angoitia turned Wilson Kneeshaw’s shot wide. Kneeshaw notched the opening goal of the night in the 19th minute, though, as he was played in by Agustin Cazarez for a lifted finish over Angoitia from just outside the penalty area for his third goal of the season. Seven minutes later the hosts doubled their lead as Trevin Caesar’s rabona pass played in Blackwood for a low finish into the right corner. Caesar capped the half with Republic FC’s third of the night in the 42nd minute as he stabbed home a finish after beating two defenders on a breakaway. Blackwood went close to adding to the host’s lead early in the second half, only to be denied by Angoitia on a breakaway, but Caesar’s second of the night arrived off Kneeshaw’s second assist in the 57th minute with a ripped low show into the left corner of the net. T.J. Casner pulled a goal back for the Toros (5-6-2, 17pts) in the 65th minute from a free kick, but six minutes later Caesar completed his hat trick to restore the four-goal lead. The teams traded goals late as Sacramento added a sixth through Daniel Trickett-Smith before Kyle Murphy scored a second for the Toros, bringing an end to a wild contest.

Scoring: 
19’ – SAC – Wilson Kneeshaw (Agustin Cazarez)
26’ – SAC – Tyler Blackwood (Trevin Caesar)
42’ – SAC – Trevin Caesar (Wilson Kneeshaw)
57’ – SAC – Trevin Caesar (Wilson Kneeshaw)
65’ – RGV – T.J. Casner
71’ – SAC – Trevin Caesar (Jeremy Hall)
87’ – SAC – Daniel Trickett-Smith (Christian Chaney)
90’ – RGV – Kyle Murphy (Kai Greene)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Sacramento had consistently created chances this season, but outside of a 4-0 victory in the club’s home opener against Orange County SC hadn’t fully capitalized on them with quality finishing. On Wednesday night, everything fell into place as three well-taken first-half goals gave the Toros an insurmountable hill to climb in the second half. With Wilson Kneeshaw and Trevin Caesar both notching a goal and assist in the first half, Republic FC looked like the side many believed it could be at the start of the season, and got a major boost in the standings as a result.

  • 2. Caesar has been in and out of the lineup this season, with Wednesday marking only his sixth start in 14 appearances. Given the opportunity the Trinidad & Tobago international’s speed gave Republic FC to get in behind the Toros defense, though, it might be a while before we see Caesar excluded again. As good as his hat trick was, his rabona assist on Tyler Blackwood’s finish was the highlight of the night. With that level of confidence running through his performance, a run similar to that we saw Caesar achieve elsewhere over the past two years could be just around the corner.

  • 3. After their early set piece chance, Wednesday night quickly became one to forget for the Toros as they fell for a third time in the past four games to remain in eighth place in the Western Conference. Rio Grande Valley had only conceded 10 goals going into the game, but a disjointed performance that saw Sacramento consistently find ways to get in behind the back four saw the Toros give up the most goals in a single game in their history. With trips to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and the Swope Park Rangers up next, Head Coach Junior Gonzalez has his work cut out to get the side back on track.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Trevin Caesar, Sacramento Republic FC – Caesar’s hat trick and outstanding assist highlighted a tremendous attacking display by the hosts in a crucial win.

Upcoming Games:
Sacramento Republic FC
at LA Galaxy II – June 25, 9:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium
Rio Grande Valley FC at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – July 1, 9 p.m. ET, Weidner Field

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