Oakland Roots vs. Sacramento Republic F.C. (June 19, 2021) - Match Preview

The Roots host their first home game of the season, and as a USL club, against new rival Sacramento Republic at 5:10 at Laney College on June 19th (and in celebration of new federal holiday Juneteenth). Tickets are sold out, and there are none available on Stubhub at the time of posting. The Blog hopes that anyone reading this has already purchased tickets.

Details of the Juneteenth celebration can be found here: https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/news_article/show/1169941

Here are some things you should know about Sacramento Republic:

The Club

To get this out of the way, just rip the band-aid right off, we don’t want to say “failed MLS expansion team.”

Owned by Sac Soccer Entertainment & Holding, or as it’s better known, Sac Holding.  I have been told that this joke is “low-hanging fruit”, but that actually seems like another cheap shot.  Currently Sacramento Republic plays home games at Heart Health Park - typically that’s a different part of the physical.

Republic’s first ever game was against Harrisburg City Islanders, later known as Penn FC, still later known as the artist formerly known as Penn FC.  RIP Three Mile Islanders.  May the Roots carry on your legacy of beating Sac FC.

Wikipedia claims, although with a dead attribution link, that Republic FC’s colors are “old glory red, maple, and egg shell” which sounds like a Grant Achatz omelet.  Republic’s motto, which symbolizes the ground under the California bear’s feet, is “Suburbs Indomita” which is Latin for “failed MLS expansion team”

Republic are managed by Mark Briggs, an Englishman who dedicated his career to playing for teams with ever sillier names.  It is the opinion of one-half of this blog that from least to most preposterous, the team names are:

1. Charleston

2. Wilmington

3. Telford

4. Willenhall

5. Northwich

6. Rushall

7. Redditch

8. Herfolge

9. Notts

10. Tipton

11. Kalamazoo

12. Mitcham

13. Chasetown

14. Hednesford

15. Welshpool

16. Tooting

The Blog had planned to include fake town names on this list, but could not come up with anything sillier than numbers 11-16.

The Republic took 5th in the Western Conference of USL last season, but were knocked out in a 1-0 first-round defeat to eventual finalist Phoenix Rising.  In the inaugural fixture of this nascent rivalry, the Republic and Roots drew 3-3 in Sacramento.  Three players from the 2020 playoff loss featured for the Republic in the first Roots’ match: Jordan McCrary, Jaime Villareal, and Dariusz Formella.

The Players

Tucker Bone:  Bone has netted three, leading Republic so far this season, despite only four starts.  In discussing this post, and thinking of notable Bones of Washington, both halves of this Blog confused Ken Bone the basketball coach and Ken Bone the undecided voter, leading to the discovery of this incredible page:

Another bone of Washington can be found here.

Duke Lacroix:

Mitchell Taintor: the 26-year old Connecticuter has played the most minutes of any outfield player for the Republic so far this season.  He lines up on the left side of Republic’s central back-three, and has picked up three yellow cards in seven games this season.  Taintor studied Labor & Employment Relations at Rutgers prior to going pro.  Solidarity.

Dan Casey: The Irish centerback picked up a straight red in Republic’s June 5 loss to OCSC, but will be available for selection for the Roots game.  Casey had started every game prior to his suspension.

Jordan McCrary: The Republic’s American defender was, per league reports, suspended one game “for abusive language following the conclusion of his side’s contest with Real Monarchs SLC.”  McCrary scored Sac’s 68th minute equalizer in the first fixture between these teams, two minutes after Bokila’s header to take the lead.

Nabi Kibunguchy:  A native of Elk Grove, and alum of UC Davis, the 23-year-old Kibunguchy was selected in the 2021 MLS Superdraft by Minnesota United and loaned out just in time for a late appearance in the first Roots-Republic matchup.  When asked by the MUFC PR department what he is most proud of, Kibunguchy responded “being humble.” Hell yes.  Kibunguchy has not seen much action so far this season, but is one to keep an eye on.  

Hayden Sargis: On the other hand, Roots fans may want to keep an eye on Sargis for this match as someone the Roots' attack may be targeting.  The Blog has been doing deep cover espionage on the Republic (listening to the 916 Republic Podcast) and can confirm that Republic fans (at least two) believe Sargis to have a mistake in him that opponents can capitalize on.  There is a strong argument to be made that Sargis is accountable for this Enriquez goal from the prior match-up:

Predictions

FPR

Laney College is going to be rocking and the Roots are rested and ready.  Newcomer Klimenta has had a match and a full week of training to integrate into the defense.  Until I see otherwise, I don’t think the Roots can keep a clean sheet, but I think their attack will be irresistible in front of the Town faithful.  3-1 to the Roots.

DPR

The addition of Klimenta seemed to free Fissore to play further up the pitch against OCSC. I hope we see more of that, plus Ward at left back for the full 90. Sacramento has had trouble scoring goals, but netted three last time against Oakland, so this defense may be the cure for what ails Sac’s attack. But Oakland are rounding into form, so I’m going to predict a 4-3 Oakland win.