clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Match Recap: Sacramento Republic 2, LA Galaxy II 0

Sacramento Republic vs Colorado Rapids Gallery Indomitable City Soccer/Alex Leguizamo

Sacramento Republic FC put a stop to their losing streak with an emphatic 2-0 win on the road against LA Galaxy II on Saturday. The boys in Old Glory Red put on a fantastic performance on both sides of the ball, earning a shutout and scoring multiple goals for the first time in nine games.

The first half began with pretty even play from both teams. The Republic mostly hung with Los Dos for the first 15 minutes, even with a little bit of a scare in the 13th minute when the team got lucky that they were not punished for a series of poor clearances.

Then, in the 16th minute of the match, the Republic did something they hadn't done in nine games. They scored in the first half. More specifically, Emrah Klimenta scored a beautiful free kick goal in the first half.

Rodrigo Lopez could not have done a better job on that one. It was a fantastic way for Klimenta to open his goalscoring account for the Quails this season, breaking a scoring drought and getting his team a much needed three points.

Klimenta's goal breathed some life into Galaxy II, but despite their renewed push to find an equalizer, the most danger they managed to cause the Republic was in the 27th minute when a deflection off of Derek Foran headed towards goal but was saved by Dominik Jakubek.

The first half ended with the Republic up a goal and looking the better of the two sides but not dominant.

The second 45 minutes began much like the first 45 ended, with the visitors protecting their lead and looking to punish Los Dos on the counter.

The Republic did just that in the 62nd minute when Harry "Prince of Quails" Williams finished off a beautiful counter attack to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and put the game away. The play was an example of some beautiful interplay from Emrah Klimenta, Harry Williams, and Thommy Stewart, who combined to shread the Galaxy II defense.

It began with Stewart taking possession of the ball after Klimenta and Williams wrenched it away from a Los Dos midfielder. Stewart then hit a well weighted through ball to an overlapping Klimenta, who sent a return pass to Stewart in the box. Stewart then backheeled the ball to Williams, who applied the finish. Overall it was a great example of good teamwork, good passing, and good movement. More of this type of quality counter attacking, please.

The rest of the half was in large part an exercise in defensive fortitude for the Republic, as they fended off a Los Dos team who was increasingly desperate to find an equalizer. In the end, though, the Republic defense held strong and preserved both the shutout and the three points.

The club's win tonight puts them in 4th place in the USL Western Conference with 10 points from 7 games.

What are your thoughts on tonight's win? Sound off in the comments below.