After a much-needed three points in a midweek fixture with Tacoma on Wednesday, Sacramento Republic FC is primed to make another statement on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. match against LA Galaxy II on Childhood Cancer Awareness Day at Heart Health Park. Three points against Los Dos will be Republic FC’s first back-to-back wins since the first two weeks of the season.
After a much-needed three points in a midweek fixture with Tacoma on Wednesday, Sacramento Republic FC is primed to make another statement on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. match against LA Galaxy II on Childhood Cancer Awareness Day at Heart Health Park. Three points against Los Dos will be Republic FC’s first back-to-back wins since the first two weeks of the season.
Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs
On the significance of Wednesday’s win in Tacoma:
“It was huge. There was a different vibe from the group, and I think you saw that in the game. You saw a desire to stick together and a desire to stick to the game plan. It’s not an easy place to go and get a result, so it was really pleasing, but now we have to capitalize on it.”
Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs
On the significance of Wednesday’s win in Tacoma:
“It was huge. There was a different vibe from the group, and I think you saw that in the game. You saw a desire to stick together and a desire to stick to the game plan. It’s not an easy place to go and get a result, so it was really pleasing, but now we have to capitalize on it.”
On the opportunity to win back-to-back games on Sunday…
“It’s a hard game. The Galaxy are a good team – they’re right there in the shake with us. It’s going to be a difficult game for us, but to improve our home record and we have to get three points.”
On Republic FC’s depth in Wednesday’s 1-0 win in Tacoma…
“As a coach you always want your substitutions to make an impact. To be fair to the guys who’ve come off the bench in moments throughout the year, they’ve made impacts and got the team results. Darek obviously gets the credit because he put the ball in the back of the net, but all three of the subs combined to get the goal on Wednesday, which is what you want. I told the players before the game it’s ‘we, not me.’ That’s a message that we have to continue to hammer home -we’re in this together and we’re a team. Every person on the roster is important.”
On Republic FC’s defensive effort at Tacoma…
“It goes back to ‘we not me.’ We defend together, we score goals together. So as a backline, they performed well but also the players in front did the really important job. I thought Jaime and Luis were extremely disciplined. The front four worked their socks off as well. As a backline, I thought we were better. Individual defending by Jordan was very good. Individual defending by Duke was very good. Dan and Nabi as well – you need that individual defending, which gives you an opportunity to then improve. We still need to get better at moving as a unit. Rafa came up with some big saves in critical moments. As a whole, I’m really pleased to go to a team like Tacoma and get a clean sheet. It’s a positive, but now we have to capitalize on it and win on Sunday.”
On the opportunity to win back-to-back games on Sunday…
“It’s a hard game. The Galaxy are a good team – they’re right there in the shake with us. It’s going to be a difficult game for us, but to improve our home record and we have to get three points.”
On Republic FC’s depth in Wednesday’s 1-0 win in Tacoma…
“As a coach you always want your substitutions to make an impact. To be fair to the guys who’ve come off the bench in moments throughout the year, they’ve made impacts and got the team results. Darek obviously gets the credit because he put the ball in the back of the net, but all three of the subs combined to get the goal on Wednesday, which is what you want. I told the players before the game it’s ‘we, not me.’ That’s a message that we have to continue to hammer home -we’re in this together and we’re a team. Every person on the roster is important.”
On Republic FC’s defensive effort at Tacoma…
“It goes back to ‘we not me.’ We defend together, we score goals together. So as a backline, they performed well but also the players in front did the really important job. I thought Jaime and Luis were extremely disciplined. The front four worked their socks off as well. As a backline, I thought we were better. Individual defending by Jordan was very good. Individual defending by Duke was very good. Dan and Nabi as well – you need that individual defending, which gives you an opportunity to then improve. We still need to get better at moving as a unit. Rafa came up with some big saves in critical moments. As a whole, I’m really pleased to go to a team like Tacoma and get a clean sheet. It’s a positive, but now we have to capitalize on it and win on Sunday.”
Republic FC Midfielder Jaime Villarreal
On the chemistry of the midfield unit:
“I think with each game we’re building good chemistry. If we give options to our teammates, we are able to get more chances. If we move well and when we are able to connect with each other, it gives us huge chances to create opportunities to score.”
On the opportunity to secure a second straight win:
“It’s big. Beating Tacoma was huge for us. But now we’ve got to try and get three points at home and make a good run to the playoffs. We’re going to face a tough, young team, but we still need to go out there with the same mentality we would any other match.”
Republic FC Forward Kharlton Belmar
On the contributions of the club’s new acquisitions:
“They have all come in and jelled into the group really well. Their individual qualities have added a push that we really needed.. Patrick has been very dangerous in the past couple of games,, and we’ve all seen what Emil can do. They have all done really well and you can’t ask for much more.”
On contributing off the bench Wednesday:
“When you’re on the bench you’ve got to come in and affect the game, and fortunately that’s what we were able to do. Credit to the guys that put in the work for those 60 or 70 minutes before then. For me, Darek, and Cam to come in and get the job done in the last 20 minutes – that’swhat you want to see from a group. It felt good to come in and get something we needed very, very much.”
Republic FC Midfielder Jaime Villarreal
On the chemistry of the midfield unit:
“I think with each game we’re building good chemistry. If we give options to our teammates, we are able to get more chances. If we move well and when we are able to connect with each other, it gives us huge chances to create opportunities to score.”
On the opportunity to secure a second straight win:
“It’s big. Beating Tacoma was huge for us. But now we’ve got to try and get three points at home and make a good run to the playoffs. We’re going to face a tough, young team, but we still need to go out there with the same mentality we would any other match.”
Republic FC Forward Kharlton Belmar
On the contributions of the club’s new acquisitions:
“They have all come in and jelled into the group really well. Their individual qualities have added a push that we really needed.. Patrick has been very dangerous in the past couple of games,, and we’ve all seen what Emil can do. They have all done really well and you can’t ask for much more.”
On contributing off the bench Wednesday:
“When you’re on the bench you’ve got to come in and affect the game, and fortunately that’s what we were able to do. Credit to the guys that put in the work for those 60 or 70 minutes before then. For me, Darek, and Cam to come in and get the job done in the last 20 minutes – that’swhat you want to see from a group. It felt good to come in and get something we needed very, very much.”
