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USL Match Preview – #RNOvSAC

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 10/13/17, 9:18AM EDT

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Donner Pass Derby sees both sides battling for position ahead of playoffs

RENO, Nev. – With a home match in the USL Western Conference Quarterfinals already sealed, Reno 1868 FC will take aim at taking second place with a win in the final Donner Pass Derby of the regular season against a Sacramento Republic FC side looking to improve its seeding lower down the playoff positions. Kickoff at Greater Nevada Field is at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday night.

Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: KAME (RNO)

Reno 1868 FC news and notes

  • Current record: 17-7-7, 58pts

  • 1868 FC took a 4-1 win against Orange County SC last Saturday night to eliminated OCSC from playoff contention and virtually ensure a home playoff game at Greater Nevada Field in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs.

  • After taking a 2-0 lead through Jimmy Ockford and Luis Felipe Fernandes, Reno allowed a goal back to Orange County before pulling away in the final 10 minutes through a Chris Wehan penalty kick in the 81st minute and a goal by Mackenzie Pridham fourth minutes later.

  • Wehan provided the assist on Ockford's goal in the first half, and is now tied for the USL single-season record with 12 assists on the season, originally set by Matt Dallman with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the 2013 USL regular season. 

  • With a victory, Reno would need San Antonio FC to either draw or lose to Rio Grande Valley FC earlier in the evening's action. Should 1868 FC only draw, it would need SAFC to lose to the Toros to move back into second place in the Western Conference.

Sacramento Republic FC news and notes

  • Current record: 13-12-6, 41pts

  • Republic FC comes into this match following a 1-0 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Saturday night at Weidner Field as the side fell for the fourth time in its last five games.

  • Sacramento still earned its fourth consecutive trip to the USL Cup Playoffs last Saturday night, however, as Reno's victory eliminated Orange County from playoff contention and put Republic FC back into the postseason.

  • Sacramento needs a win to have a chance of moving out of the No. 8-seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, but should Republic FC take victory against Reno and both sixth-place Tulsa Roughnecks FC and seventh-place OKC Energy FC fail to take victory in their final games of the season, Sacramento would likely return to Greater Nevada Field for the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs.

  • Republic FC should have standout defender Emrah Klimenta available for selection after his return from international duty with Montenegro. Klimenta made his first start in FIFA World Cup Qualifying last weekend when Montenegro faced Poland.

  • Republic FC will also have forward Trevin Caesar again available, after the Trinidad & Tobago international made a substitute appearance in the Soca Warriors' 2-1 win against the United States in World Cup Qualifying on Tuesday night. 

Series Notes

  • 1868 FC has won both previous regular-season meetings between the sides, with a 2-0 win on June 10 at Greater Nevada Field and a 2-1 win on August 19 at Papa Murphy's Park, but Sacramento did take victory when the teams met in the Third Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Squads

  • Reno – GK: Russ Klaybough, Matt Bersano, Sean Bieker; D: Jimmy Ockford, Brent Richards, Brenton Griffiths, Jordan Murrell, Kip Colvey, Thomas Janjigian, Matheus Silva; M: Riley Hanley, Marc Pelosi, Chris Wehan, Lindo Mfeka, Matt LaGrassa, Seth Casiple, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Nick von Niederhausern, Anibal Echeverria, Darwin Espinal, Jordan Roberts, Junior Burgos; F: Dane Kelly, Antoine Hoppenot, Boxi Yomba, Mackenzie Pridham, Brian Brown

  • Sacramento – GK: Dominik Jakubek, Evan Newton, Jordan Martinez; D: Peter McGlynn, Carlos Rodriguez, Chris Christian, James Kiffe, Emrah Klimenta, Elliott Hord; M: Agustin Cazarez, Danny Barrera, Gabe Gissie, Lamin Suma, Tyler Blackwood, Roberto Hategan, Villyan Bijev, Jeremy Hall, Luis Espino, Hayden Partain, Quincy Butler, Oscar Govea; F: Wilson Kneeshaw, Harry Williams, Sammy Ochoa, Trevin Caesar, Christian Chaney, Matthew Wiesenfarth

Discipline

  • Reno – None

  • Sacramento – Accumulation warning: James Kiffe, Samuel Ochoa

Officials

  • REF: JASON HUTCHINSON

  • AR1: Jeremy Davis

  • AR2: Matt Huston

  • 4TH: Isa Selaci

Game hashtag:

  • #RNOvSAC

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