It’s back to the future for Sacramento Republic FC at the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. The team will play regional rival San Jose Earthquakes, a Major League Soccer team, in the tournament’s round of 16 at Cal Expo’s Heart Health Park. Republic FC hopes to pull off another “cupset” as the lower-division USL Championship team in the contest just like they did at home against the Earthquakes in 2022. Back then, Sacramento beat San Jose 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. It was the first of three straight wins against MLS teams as part of a run that ended with Republic FC losing to Orlando City SC in the final. Last year, Republic FC was knocked out of the nation’s oldest soccer tournament early. So Tuesday’s match is another chance to finish what the team started in 2022. Republic President and General Manager Todd Dunivant called the rematch another “David and Goliath situation.” “This is what we live for,” he said. “It’s a chance to prove ourselves against the best that there is. We like our chances. We’re a team that always punches above their weight and this is another opportunity to do that.”Core members of the club from Republic’s historic 2022 run – Rodrigo López, Jack Gurr, Luis Felipe, Conor Donovan, Danny Vitiello, Damia Viader, Lee Desmond and Nick Ross – are still on the squad. And this year Republic has added more star power up front in Trevor Amann and Kieran Phillips, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town A.F.C. in England. “Sacramento has a history in the Open Cup and they have a good history in the Open Cup,” forward Amann said. Amann, who was the USL League One player of the year in 2023, has become Republic’s top goal scorer with six since joining the club this year. He said he and other players, both veterans and the new additions, are excited to take on the challenge of the U.S. Open Cup. “It’s an exciting match for this club,” Amann said.Midfielder Ross said there’s “not a huge gap” between USL Championship and MLS teams, save a few players “on the big money and on that for a reason.” “We have nothing to fear, and we’re excited for the game,” Ross said, adding that Republic has remained undefeated so far this year and “shown good resilience.” Coach Mark Briggs said that San Jose “adds a little bit of spice” as a regional rival and an MLS team.“They have a lot of high-level players,” he said, adding that will be exciting for Republic to “pit themselves against a higher level.” After a bruising three matches in seven days, two of them on the road, Republic players earned a few extra days to rest before a normal week of training, Briggs said. During Republic’s 2-2 draw against Rhode Island on May 11, forward Russell Cicerone had to be helped off the pitch after an injury. KCRA 3 has reached out to Republic FC for an update on his condition. Dunivant did confirm to KCRA 3 that captain “RoRo” López will play in Tuesday’s match after missing the last league game to be by the side of his 10-year-old son Roman, who recently underwent heart surgery in Los Angeles. On Monday, López told supporters of a crowdfunded campaign started by a teammate that his son was cleared to continue his recovery process at home. “We are so relieved as a family. It had been a few rough months, especially this last week. But, we feel so fortunate and blessed for the Medical team at UCLA they did a wonderful job with Roman,” López wrote in an update on GoFundMe. “RoRo and his son are doing well,” Dunivant said. “RoRo’s back. It’s incredible what he and his family have been through.” Briggs, the Republic FC coach, said that “connection” is one of the club’s strengths. “We talk about family, but we don’t just preach it. We actually are it,” he said. The Earthquakes head into Tuesday’s match with Republic FC on a two-game losing streak after winning their previous three games, one of which was against the Oakland Roots in the US Open Cup. Forward Amahl Pellegrino leads his team with four goals, and midfielder Cristian Espinoza has notched eight assists so far this year in league play. Briggs said the Earthquakes are a “fantastic club” with good players and a “fantastic coach and staff.” Kickoff for the match is at 7 p.m., and fans can get $2 Modelo beer while supplies last. “Come out for that if nothing else,” Dunivant said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
It’s back to the future for Sacramento Republic FC at the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.
The team will play regional rival San Jose Earthquakes, a Major League Soccer team, in the tournament’s round of 16 at Cal Expo’s Heart Health Park.
Republic FC hopes to pull off another “cupset” as the lower-division USL Championship team in the contest just like they did at home against the Earthquakes in 2022.
Back then, Sacramento beat San Jose 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. It was the first of three straight wins against MLS teams as part of a run that ended with Republic FC losing to Orlando City SC in the final.
Last year, Republic FC was knocked out of the nation’s oldest soccer tournament early. So Tuesday’s match is another chance to finish what the team started in 2022.
Republic President and General Manager Todd Dunivant called the rematch another “David and Goliath situation.”
“This is what we live for,” he said. “It’s a chance to prove ourselves against the best that there is. We like our chances. We’re a team that always punches above their weight and this is another opportunity to do that.”
Core members of the club from Republic’s historic 2022 run – Rodrigo López, Jack Gurr, Luis Felipe, Conor Donovan, Danny Vitiello, Damia Viader, Lee Desmond and Nick Ross – are still on the squad. And this year Republic has added more star power up front in Trevor Amann and Kieran Phillips, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town A.F.C. in England.
“Sacramento has a history in the Open Cup and they have a good history in the Open Cup,” forward Amann said.
Amann, who was the USL League One player of the year in 2023, has become Republic’s top goal scorer with six since joining the club this year.
He said he and other players, both veterans and the new additions, are excited to take on the challenge of the U.S. Open Cup.
“It’s an exciting match for this club,” Amann said.
Midfielder Ross said there’s “not a huge gap” between USL Championship and MLS teams, save a few players “on the big money and on that for a reason.”
“We have nothing to fear, and we’re excited for the game,” Ross said, adding that Republic has remained undefeated so far this year and “shown good resilience.”
Coach Mark Briggs said that San Jose “adds a little bit of spice” as a regional rival and an MLS team.
“They have a lot of high-level players,” he said, adding that will be exciting for Republic to “pit themselves against a higher level.”
After a bruising three matches in seven days, two of them on the road, Republic players earned a few extra days to rest before a normal week of training, Briggs said.
During Republic’s 2-2 draw against Rhode Island on May 11, forward Russell Cicerone had to be helped off the pitch after an injury. KCRA 3 has reached out to Republic FC for an update on his condition.
Dunivant did confirm to KCRA 3 that captain “RoRo” López will play in Tuesday’s match after missing the last league game to be by the side of his 10-year-old son Roman, who recently underwent heart surgery in Los Angeles.
On Monday, López told supporters of a crowdfunded campaign started by a teammate that his son was cleared to continue his recovery process at home.
“We are so relieved as a family. It had been a few rough months, especially this last week. But, we feel so fortunate and blessed for the Medical team at UCLA they did a wonderful job with Roman,” López wrote in an update on GoFundMe.
“RoRo and his son are doing well,” Dunivant said. “RoRo’s back. It’s incredible what he and his family have been through.”
Briggs, the Republic FC coach, said that “connection” is one of the club’s strengths.
“We talk about family, but we don’t just preach it. We actually are it,” he said.
The Earthquakes head into Tuesday’s match with Republic FC on a two-game losing streak after winning their previous three games, one of which was against the Oakland Roots in the US Open Cup.
Forward Amahl Pellegrino leads his team with four goals, and midfielder Cristian Espinoza has notched eight assists so far this year in league play.
Briggs said the Earthquakes are a “fantastic club” with good players and a “fantastic coach and staff.”
Kickoff for the match is at 7 p.m., and fans can get $2 Modelo beer while supplies last.
“Come out for that if nothing else,” Dunivant said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
