Season ends for Hammerheads in playoffs

SACRAMENTO, CA (USL PRO) — Sacramento Republic FC claimed its first USL PRO Playoffs victory in club history as it took a 4-1 win against Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Bonney Field. The victory allowed Republic FC to advance to the semifinals of the 2014 USL PRO Playoffs as defenders Nemanja Vuković and Mickey Daly account for three of the four goals, with Adam Jahn adding the fourth late in the match.

Republic FC had many early chances, but was unable to convert despite putting two shots off the crossbar. Republic FC goalkeeper Jake Gleeson made a kick save in the 17th minute on a breakaway opportunity from Hammerheads FC forward Sunny Jane to keep the game scoreless after the opening half-hour.

Sacramento finally broke through in the 40th minute when midfielder Max Alvarez sent a cross into the penalty area. After a group of players went up for a header, Vuković fired a shot in from close range to give Republic FC a halftime lead.

The Hammerheads came out of the break pressing for a goal, and in the 58th minute second-half substitute Samuel Ochoa broke free behind the defense as he ran onto a through-ball. Gleeson came off his line to make a challenge, but instead clipped Ochoa in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Ochoa stepped up to the mark and confidently put his shot past Gleeson and into the back of the net to level the score.

The equalizer from Ochoa inspired a quick response from Republic FC, which needed just six minutes to regain the lead. In the 64th minute Rodrigo Lopez took a corner that found defender Mickey Daly in the air, and the former Hammerheads center back redirected the ball off a Wilmington defender’s back and into the net for a 2-1 lead.

With the crowd still buzzing Republic FC doubled its lead in the 67th minute as second-half substitute Octavio Guzman sent a cross to the far post to Thomas Stewart, who redirected a header back across the face of goal. An unmarked Vuković cleaned up the play with a header for his second of the match and a 3-1 lead.

Republic FC scored again in the 88th minute after defender James Kiffe sent a cross over the goalkeeper’s head to an unmarked Jahn, who put away the fourth and final goal of the match into the empty net.

“I think this team really deserved this,” said Vuković following the match. “It doesn’t matter who scores, I am just happy. I hope we keep playing and advancing.”

With the win Republic FC advances to the semifinals of the 2014 USL PRO Playoffs, where it will host LA Galaxy II on Saturday September 20. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT, with gates at Bonney Field opening at 6:30 p.m. PT.