SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference for the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs on Saturday night with a 1-0 win against Las Vegas Lights FC, but the night was a special one for the club as it welcomed its newest signing to the field for his debut.
15-year-old Matthew Harding, who was signed through the help of Make-A-Wish and UC Davis Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, became the youngest player in club history and brought the sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Papa Murphy’s Park to its feet with his first goal in Republic FC colors.
Here are some of the sights and sounds from a memorable night for Republic FC.
Sacramento Republic FC saw 15-year-old Matthew Harding become its youngest player in club history against Las Vegas Lights FC after the cancer patient was signed through the help of Make-A-Wish and UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Very excited to share the field with Matthew tomorrow night! Hopefully everyone can get there early to welcome him onto the pitch! https://t.co/9C6CzZkPKE
— Cameron Iwasa (@cam31iwasa) October 12, 2018
Be sure to get in your seats by 7:15pm tonight for my new teammates debut! https://t.co/sSyOGfv4Sg
— Josh Cohen (@JCohenHere) October 13, 2018
Going to be a special night tomorrow at Papa Murphy’s Park. Get there early to watch our new teammate, Matthew! Love being a part of this club https://t.co/l9CQZ5fvT9
— Christian Eissele (@chriseissele) October 13, 2018
One of my favorite traditions is the final match @SacRepublicFC staff tifo...
— Ben Gumpert (@bgumpert) October 13, 2018
Looking forward to the unveil tonight! pic.twitter.com/PbYzgCJYUZ
@SacRepublicFC @Sac_Battalion is ready to greet our latest signing, Matthew Harding!!! Vamos Matthew pic.twitter.com/Ai7pXpDFah
— Dan (@danieltyree) October 14, 2018
Pumped to see @SacRepublicFC crush it tonight for the last reg season game. pic.twitter.com/JL2T5apCVb
— Alex Taghavian (@ATaghavian) October 14, 2018
This might be the first time I’ve ever cried at a soccer match.
— Julissa Ortiz (@julissaortiztv) October 14, 2018
Well done @SacRepublicFC @lvlightsfc
Dream come true for #mathewHarding!! So thrilled I was here to see it! @UCDavisHealth @MakeAWish
Ok this kid is unreal congrats bud!!!!
— Rodrigo Lopez (@Lopez_Roro) October 14, 2018
There’s moments like tonight that transcend beyond sports
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 14, 2018
Thank you to @MakeAWishCANV, @UCDavisHealth, @Sac_Battalion, @lvlightsfc and each one of you for helping us make this an unforgettable night for Matt.#ThankYouMatthew pic.twitter.com/R6JHB26Eog
Really awesome stuff here from @SacRepublicFC -- 15-year-old Matthew Harding has been battling a rare cancer, and his wish was to become a SRFC player and score a goal. And the club, along with @MakeAWish and @UCDavisHealth, made the dream come true. pic.twitter.com/RQ7QCHQgWj
— Roger Gonzalez (@RGonzalezCBS) October 14, 2018
What an electric night at the park. Crowd was as boisterous as I’ve heard all season - Matthew Harding got the night started with a big time goal - @cam31iwasa picked up his 17th - 3points earned and the @SacRepublicFC snag the #2 seed in the west.
— Rob McAllister (@Rob_McAllister) October 14, 2018
Make sure you get in your seats early to watch Matthew start the match! https://t.co/ICjzI4617C
— Todd Dunivant (@ToddDunivant) October 12, 2018
Very excited to grace the field tonight with my new teammate Matthew! Hope to see you guys there early so we can give him the best welcome ever! pic.twitter.com/tFj3FAkCPS
— Shannon Gomez (@shannongomez02) October 13, 2018
See you guys tomorrow night at papa Murphy’s park. Get there at 7:15 to celebrate our newly signed player Matthew from @MakeAWish! pic.twitter.com/Adb1RUt1Gx
— Elliott Hord (@Ehord26) October 13, 2018
Jersey is ready pic.twitter.com/16JpPyk2Sb
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 14, 2018
Gearing up to hit the field #SACvLV pic.twitter.com/9bI6uakYXz
— UC Davis Health (@UCDavisHealth) October 14, 2018
Mathew Harding, @SacRepublicFC latest signing comes out to fire up @Sac_Battalion before we turn out the lights. #SacramentoProud pic.twitter.com/egUkyiu7lL
— Dan (@danieltyree) October 14, 2018
1' | Cameron Iwasa is on for Matthew Harding.
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 14, 2018
Matt, that was an incredible debut!!!#SACvLV pic.twitter.com/VCAOl1VgBi
Hey @SacRepublicFC you just made my heart skip a beat. #SACvLV pic.twitter.com/1C8hh3AhI1
— Rave Bear (@Rave_Bear_Sac) October 14, 2018
What a goal, Matthew!!
— Steve Cooke (@stevecookesoccr) October 14, 2018
Different class by everyone involved at @SacRepublicFC and @MakeAWishCANV and @UCDavisHealth
Surely this has to be the @USL goal of the week!! https://t.co/fMw6cSfkyZ
Chills. What a moment
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 14, 2018
(via @SacRepublicFC, @MakeAWishCANV, @UCDavisHealth) pic.twitter.com/FothG4dWoS
Celebrating Matthew! @SacRepublicFC @UCDavisHealth pic.twitter.com/RbK3P1kouo
— Make-A-Wish CA NV (@MakeAWishCANV) October 14, 2018
Great signing @SacRepublicFC #SACvLV pic.twitter.com/aoum6Fyiz9
— Rave Bear (@Rave_Bear_Sac) October 14, 2018
Que bueno será compartir con mi amigo Matthew y deseando lo mejor, esperemos lleguen temprano mañana y vean su debuthttps://t.co/NDwsJFiflN
— Luis Espino (@Luisespino16) October 12, 2018
make sure to be in your seats tomo night at 7:15pm for my new teammate's debut! all love bro @MakeAWish https://t.co/d0pbYvfJeP
— Roberto Hategan (@RobertoHategan) October 13, 2018
@SacRepublicFC let’s all embrace this moment together as a great young man can live out a goal of his! https://t.co/vHvhi9InZo
— Hayden Partain (@hayden_partain) October 12, 2018
Such an inspiration to have Matthew and his family with us for tonight’s @SacRepublicFC match.
— Ben Gumpert (@bgumpert) October 14, 2018
He has trained hard for this. In every way. And no one deserves it more. pic.twitter.com/c7CqpVh9cT
Honored to make my @SacRepublicFC play-by-play debut on the same night that Matthew Harding makes his playing debut. #SACvLV pic.twitter.com/DKR0TrLv0x
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeKHTK) October 14, 2018
1’ | HERE WE GO AND WE ALREADY HAVE A GOAL!!!
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 14, 2018
Matthew Harding just made his pro debut with a goal!!#SACvLV pic.twitter.com/i9TNjp5XKR
We can't lie, this is pretty awesome https://t.co/d3So6T12Ii
— Real Monarchs (@RealMonarchs) October 14, 2018
What a debut for Matthew! https://t.co/T2V70zpI9C
— USL (@USL) October 14, 2018
Incredible moment.... happy to be apart of that ! Great finish too! @MakeAWish @SacRepublicFC @lvlightsfc https://t.co/hv5n2RiHc6
— Thomas K Olsen (@Tommykolsen1) October 14, 2018
Quality strike
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 14, 2018
Amazing moment
(via @SacRepublicFC, @MakeAWishCANV, @UCDavisHealth) pic.twitter.com/xNpqrUc2gb
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