Match Recap: Sacramento Republic 0, San Francisco Deltas 0

Sacramento Republic headed down to San Francisco Saturday night looking for a spirited preseason game and a win. 90 minutes of often intense and occasionally scrappy play delivered the former, but a win was not in the cards.

Both teams started the first half with a real sense of intensity, but it was the home team that had the advantage early on.

The Deltas were able to put the Republic defense under considerable pressure from time to time, but were unable to break through completely.

The first dangerous chance for the home team came in the ninth minute when Agustin Cazarez mishandled the ball. Thankfully for the Republic, Dominik Jakubek was able to handle the situation.

Republic had their first significant opportunity in the 13th minute with a free kick, but Danny Barrera’s lofted service to the back post came to nothing. Prior to that set piece opportunity, the Republic were unable to make any significant inroads into the Deltas half through the middle of the field.

Emrah Klimenta received the first yellow card of the game in the 15th minute for a professional foul near midfield.

Republic captain Danny Barrera tried to find Sammy Ochoa, who had beaten the offside trap and was wide open, with a cross, but it went over the forward’s head and came to nothing. The opportunity came down the wing, like most of the Republic’s best attacking moves in the first half.

James Kiffe earned the Republic’s second yellow card of the match in the 37th minute for a hard foul near the right side line.

Despite the best efforts of both teams to get a goal, the referee brought an increasingly chippy first half to an end with no goals from either side.

Trevin Caesar had the first real chance of the second half in the 48th minute, but the Republic had to settle for a corner kick. Republic had another chance at goal on the corner, but it went out for a goal kick.

Paul Buckle made his first substitution of the night in the 60th minute, bringing on Elliott Hord for Emrah Klimenta.

The Deltas’ Jackson forced Jakubek to make another good save in the 65th minute with a shot from the right side of the penalty area.

The home team had another good chance to take the lead in the 66th minute, but Devon Sandoval’s finish went just wide.

Buckle made a trio of substitutions in the 70th minute, bringing on Daniel Trickett-Smith, Wilson Kneeshaw, and Harry Williams for Sammy Ochoa, Trevin Caesar, and Tyler Blackwood.

The Republic attack looked flat for much of the final 20 minutes, despite Buckle’s insistence that the team pick up the pace as the game approached the final whistle.

Neither the Republic nor the Deltas were able to get any clear-cut chances in the final minutes, and the game ended as a scoreless draw.

Sacramento Republic Starting XI: Dominik Jakubek; Emrah Klimenta (off 60), Jeremy Hall, Julius James, James Kiffe; Danny Barrera, Adam Moffat, Agustin Cazarez, Tyler Blackwood (off 70); Sammy Ochoa (off 70), Trevin Caesar (off 70).

Sacramento Republic Bench: Evan Newton, Harry Williams (on 70), Wilson Kneeshaw (on 70), Daniel Trickett-Smith (on 70), Gabe Gissie, Lamin Suma, Enrique Montano, Christian Chaney, Elliott Hord (on 60)

What are your thoughts about tonight’s match? Sound off in the comments below!