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Sacramento Republic FC faced off against Tulsa Roughnecks FC Saturday night as part of Pride Night at Papa Murphy's Park. Sacramento (6-5-2) was looking to continue their dominance over Tulsa (4-6-5), and tally their third-consecutive league win. Sacramento has never lost to the Roughnecks — holding an impressive 6-0-1 record that dates back to 2015.
Republic started the match on the front foot and it immediately paid dividends. In the 8th minute, Villyan Bijev took a free kick left of goal that Mitchell Taintor brilliantly headed in to give the home side a quick 1-0 advantage.
Go on, @Mitch_Taintor!
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) June 23, 2019
SAC 1 | 0 TUL#PrideNight | #SACvTUL pic.twitter.com/YuUx4QZ1Iu
In the 44th minute, Cameron Iwasa volleyed in his eighth goal of the season on a beautiful cross from Jordan McCrary. Sacramento completely dominated the first 45 minutes of the match both in terms of possession and attack and were the clear better side.
The second half started exactly how the first half ended. Sacramento added to their two goal lead in the 48th minute from Stefano Bonomo who easily slotted the ball home for a 3-0 advantage. It was his first goal in United Soccer League Championship (USL) play. His first goal as a member of the Republic came in dramatic fashion last month in a 1-0 Open Cup victory in extra time against Fresno.
From that point on, the route was flat out ON. In the 70th minute, Iwasa added his second goal of the match, and with it, his second brace on the season. In the 74th minute, it was Bonomo again on a beautiful setup from Sam Werner to extend the Republic’s lead to 5-0. It was Bonomo’s first brace of the season.
Braces all around
— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) June 23, 2019
SAC 6 | 0 TUL#PrideNight | #SACvTUL pic.twitter.com/3NJhEsPOMt
If five goals were not enough, in the 80th minute Sam Werner got loose on the right side, dribbled the ball towards the box and hit a low shot past the keeper that gave the Quails a 6-0 advantage. And that’s where the match would end. The six goals is the second most ever by the Republic (Quails earned a 7-3 victory against Chula Vista in Open Cup play in 2015), but it was the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
With the win, Sacramento moves to 7-5-2 (23 points), while Tulsa falls to 4-7-5 (17 points) and into fifteenth place in the USL Western Conference table.
Republic return to action next Saturday, June 29 when they travel to face Reno 1868 FC. That match is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30pm.
Final Stats:
Sacramento Republic FC: 6 goals, 20 shots, 9 shots on target, 46.0 possession, 5 corners, 1 offsides, 2 yellow cards.
Tulsa Roughnecks FC: 0 goals, 9 shots, 3 shots on target, 54.0 possession, 3 corners, 0 offsides, 1 yellow card.
Republic FC Lineup: Josh Cohen, Shannon Gomez (OUT, 77’), Haris Chantzopoulos, Mitchell Taintor (OUT, 83’), Jordan McCrary, Ray Saari, Jaime Villarreal, Villyan Bijev, Sam Werner, Cameron Iwasa and Stefan Bonomo (OUT, 77’).
Republic FC Bench: Rafael Diaz, Matt Mahoney (IN, 83’), Tyler Blackwood, Drew Skundrich, Dekel Keinan, Keven Aleman (IN, 77’) and Juan Barahona (IN, 77’).