Sacramento Republic FC prepares for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday when it hosts Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders. This is Sacramento’s last chance to win a cupset at Heart Health Park at Cal Expo against a top-tier MLS team after the Republic defeated the San Jose Earthquakes at home in May. During that match, Republic captain Rodrigo “RoRo” López suffered a season-ending injury. Last year’s star forward Russell Cicerone was also out due to injury. Much has changed since the Republic’s last Open Cup performance, as Sacramento has struggled to find its footing in the league despite the addition of veteran midfielder Justin Portillo to its roster. The Republic’s USL championship record since its last US Open Cup is two wins, three losses and two draws. They have scored just one goal in their last three league games. The team has experimented with who to start or who to come off the bench late in games to recover from the midseason slump with varying effects. “We haven’t performed well in the league, especially at home, which is an area we need to change, but big games can change that confidence,” coach Mark Briggs said Friday. “Let’s make it the atmosphere that we know Heart Health Park can be and make it tough for them to come out and play and show them what Sacramento is all about.” One bright spot has been goalkeeper Danny Vitiello. Last season’s goalkeeper of the year now leads the league with eight clean sheets, holding opposing teams scoreless. Tuesday’s game will mark the second overall appearance in the quarterfinals of the nation’s oldest ongoing tournament. The club is looking to build on its veteran leadership behind players like Luis Felipe, who is making his third career Elite 8 appearance. “I think it’s important for us to have played in the tournament and be here because it gives the guys confidence, and we know what we’re capable of doing and progressing,” Felipe said. In 2022, Republic FC defeated three MLS teams before losing to another, Orlando City SC, in the final. “This tournament, we showed here in Sacramento that this is our tournament. This is what we love,” said Todd Dunivant, president and general manager of Sacramento Republic FC. “This is what our fans love. This is an opportunity to really show what we can do on a big stage, on a national stage. We’re stepping up. Our fans are stepping up.” »He noted that while the team has “stumbled a little bit in the league” recently after starting the season with an 11-game undefeated streak, “at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter.” “This is what we live for,” he said. “This is our tournament and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.” Sacramento Republic FC has never played an U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal at home and has only faced Seattle once before. In the 2018 U.S. Open Cup round of 32, Republic beat the Sounders 2-1 in overtime. The Seattle Sounders have won the U.S. Open Cup four times, including three straight years from 2009-11. The game kicks off Tuesday at 8 p.m. and will feature $2 beers for fans. The club is expecting another sellout crowd. Tickets can be purchased here. “We’re no strangers to big games,” Dunivant said. “You don’t have to get pumped up for a game like this. It’s the most fun.” For those who can’t attend, the game will be streamed live for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Sacramento Republic FC prepares for the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday, when they welcome Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders to town.
It’s Sacramento’s last chance to win a cupset at Heart Health Park at Cal Expo against a higher-division MLS team after the Republic beat the San Jose Earthquakes at home in May.
In that game, Republic captain Rodrigo “RoRo” López suffered a season-ending injury. Last year’s star forward Russell Cicerone was also out due to injury.
Much has changed since the Republic’s last performance in the Open Cup, as Sacramento have struggled to find their feet in the league despite the addition of veteran midfielder Justin Portillo to their squad.
Since their last US Open Cup appearance, the Republic have won two, lost three and drawn two. They have scored just one goal in their last three league games.
The team has experimented with who to start or who to bring off the bench late in games to recover from the mid-season slump with varying effects.
“We haven’t had a great league performance, especially at home, which is an area we need to change, but big games can shake that confidence,” coach Mark Briggs said Friday. “Let’s make it the atmosphere that we know Heart Health Park can be and make it a tough place for them to come play and show them what Sacramento is all about.”
Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello has been a bright spot. Last season’s keeper of the year now leads the league with eight clean sheets, preventing opposition teams from scoring.
Tuesday’s match will mark the team’s second appearance in the quarterfinals of the oldest ongoing domestic tournament. The club will look to rely on its experienced leadership behind players like Luis Felipe, who is making his third career appearance in the Elite 8.
“I think it’s important for us to have played in the tournament and to have been there because it gives confidence to the guys, and we know what we are capable of doing and improving,” Felipe said.
In 2022, Republic FC defeated three MLS teams before losing to another, Orlando City SC, in the final.
“This tournament, we showed it here in Sacramento, this is our tournament. This is what we love,” said Todd Dunivant, president and general manager of Sacramento Republic FC. “This is what our fans love. This is an opportunity to really show what we can do on a big stage, on a national stage. We’re stepping up. Our fans are stepping up.”
He noted that while the team has “stumbled a little bit in the league” recently after starting the season with an 11-game unbeaten run, “at the end of the day it doesn’t matter.”
“This is what we live for,” he said. “This is our tournament and we are looking forward to this opportunity.”
Sacramento Republic FC have never played a US Open Cup quarterfinal at home and have only faced Seattle once before.
In the 2018 US Open Cup round of 32, Republic defeated the Sounders 2–1 in overtime.
The Seattle Sounders have won the US Open Cup four times, including three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011.
The game kicks off Tuesday at 8 p.m. and fans can purchase $2 beers. The club is expecting another sellout crowd. You can buy tickets here.
“We’re no strangers to big games,” Dunivant said. “You don’t have to get pumped up for a game like this. It’s the most fun.”
For those unable to attend, the match will be streamed live for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
