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Five Reasons to Watch #STLvSAC

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/14/18, 7:41PM EDT

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The USL Game of the week has winning streaks and playoff position front and center


Sacramento Republic FC forward Cameron Iwasa scored twice in the first meeting between his club and Saint Louis FC this season. | Photo courtesy Sacramento Republic FC

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The USL Game of the Week visits Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis on Wednesday night (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN3) as Saint Louis FC and Sacramento Republic FC square off for a second time this season. Separated by 11 points in the Western Conference standings, there’s a lot at stake for both sides, including a pair of impressive recent runs of form coming into this contest.

Here are five key storylines ahead of what should be an entertaining matchup.

1. WE’RE GOING STREAKING: Saint Louis FC has won three games in a row to move to the cusp of the playoff positions after this past Saturday’s 4-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC. Sacramento Republic FC has gone undefeated in its last six games, including back-to-back victories after a 2-1 victory on Saturday night against Rio Grande Valley FC. With both clubs producing in impressive fashion as we hit the final stretch of the regular season there should be plenty of entertainment on offer.

2. CLASSIC COMEBACK: Sacramento Republic FC was cruising to victory the first time these teams met at Papa Murphy’s Park on June 23, ahead by two goals with 20 minutes to go after Cameron Iwasa had struck twice, once in either half. But then in the final stanza Saint Louis turned everything around to emerge with a 2-2 draw as Albert Dikwa pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute before Wal Fall put home the equalizer moments before stoppage time on a picture-perfect free kick from 25 yards into the top-right corner of the net. STLFC outshot Sacramento 7-1 over those final 20 minutes, and the memory of that lost lead is probably still fresh for Republic FC’s players.

3. IWASA VS. GREIG: With 11 goals this season, Cameron Iwasa is on course for a career year for Republic FC. With nine goals this season, Saint Louis’ Kyle Greig has continued to move up the ranks in the USL’s modern-era goalscoring leaders with 44 regular-season goals since his rookie season in 2013. Both, though, are among the best at what they do in the league and will be players to focus on throughout the night as Greig looks to make it four consecutive home games with a goal for STLFC and Iwasa tries to add to his now-club record 27 goals for Republic FC.

4. RACE TO THE TOP: With four wins in its last five outings, Republic FC (12-5-7, 43pts) has put itself in position to make a challenge for top spot in the Western Conference by the end of the regular season, sitting four points back of current leader Real Monarchs SLC. Picking up a win on the road before Sacramento heads home for a clash on Saturday night with the LA Galaxy II would add to the pressure building at the top of the Western Conference standings and Republic FC’s chances of a top-two finish when October arrives.

5. PLAYOFF POSITIONING: Through a combination of its three consecutive victories and some helpful results elsewhere, Saint Louis FC (8-6-8, 32pts) would be in the playoff positions by the end of Wednesday night with a victory. With 10 goals in its last four outings Saint Louis has started to fire in the attacking third as it enters its final third of the seasons, and there’s nothing that would make the St. Louligans happier than another three points in the bag to put toward a first postseason trip in the club’s history.

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