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Gameday Report: September 15, Week 28

By USLChampionship.com, 09/15/19, 7:02PM EDT

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Republic FC earns late victory against Toros; Reno earns road victory in Austin

Sacramento Republic FC moved back into fourth place in the Western Conference with a victory against Rio Grande Valley FC, while Reno 1868 FC moved up to second as it took victory on the road against Austin Bold FC in Sunday’s action in the USL Championship. 

AUSTIN BOLD FC (1), RENO 1868 FC (2)

AUSTIN, Texas – 1868 FC notched its second consecutive victory and moved into second place in the Western Conference as it earned victory on the road against Bold FC. Austin had the early pressure, but the first big chance fell to Reno in the ninth minute when a good cross from the right by Brent Richards found Danny Musovski at the back post, but the forward mistimed his header and sent it wide. Sam Gleadle then had a golden opportunity three minutes later as he wove past two defenders to get in one-on-one, but his shot the bottom-right corner was turned wide by Bold FC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. Austin got the ball in the net in the 18th minute off a corner kick, but the tally was waved off for a foul prior to Andre Lima’s finish, and a minute later Reno was awarded a penalty kick when Corey Hertzog was brought down in the area. Hertzog stepped up and converted with a shot down the middle as Restrepo dove early. Bold FC leveled in the 41st minute when a corner from the left by Xavier Baez from the left was flicked on at the near post by Kris Tyrpak and put home from close range by Kleber, but two minutes later Reno regained the lead as Sam Gleadle surged upfield on a counterattack, outpacing the chasing defense, before laying on a simple finish for Musovski’s seventh goal in the past three games. Bold FC almost hit back eight minutes into the second half when Lima’s header clipped the outside of the left post after a good cross from the right by Sean McFarlane, and the hosts continued to carry more of the play as the second half progressed. Reno had a big chance to add a third with 12 minutes to go, however, only for Restrepo to make a fine save to deny Musovski and a minute later Austin’s Ema Twumasi hit a curling shot from the top-left corner of the penalty area that came back off the right post. Restrepo then came up big twice in quick succession to keep out chances for Siad Haji and Lindo Mfeka after both got in behind Austin’s defense to keep the hosts in the game, but Bold FC was unable to find a late equalizer as Restrepo – up for a stoppage-time corner kick – volleyed its finish chance just wide of the left post as 1868 FC took its second consecutive victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Sam Gleadle, Reno 1868 FC – Gleadle recorded one assist, two key passes and completed 4 of 4 dribbles while also completing 15 of 18 passes to help Reno take a big road victory. 

SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC (2), RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC (1)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Darek Formella scored his second game-winning goal in as many games to lift Republic FC past the Toros late at Papa Murphy’s Park. The hosts almost took the lead inside the opening 30 seconds when Keven Aleman played Jaime Villarreal into the penalty area, and his centering pass was met by a first-time shot from Thomas Enevoldsen that was saved by Toros goalkeeper Michael Nelson. Instead, though, it was the Toros who struck in the fifth minute when Jesus Enriquez’s chipped cross from the left found Isidro Martinez for a close-range header, and while Republic FC goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made the initial save, RGVFC’s Nico Lemoine was on hand to put home the rebound. The Toros almost doubled their lead in the 13th minute when a long clearance by Nelson was misjudged by a Republic FC defender and allow Michael Salazar a one-on-one chance, but his finish went wide of the right post, and Sacramento quickly tied things up when Sam Werner seized on a flick by Enevoldsen off a pass forward by Charalampos Chantzopoulos to get in behind the Toros back line and finished into the right corner. Sacramento had a chance to take the lead with 20 minutes to go when Matt Mahoney stepped out of defense and played a good give-and-go with Envoldsen but sent his finish from the top of the penalty area wide of the right post. With nine minutes to go, however, Republic FC capitalized on a poor clearance that allowed Aleman to drive forward before finding Formella in the left side of the penalty area, and the Polish forward roofed his finish to put the hosts ahead. That proved the difference as the Toros were unable to seriously threaten in the closing stages and had just two shots in the final 45 minutes.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jaime Villarreal, Sacramento Republic FC – Villarreal was stellar throughout in midfield, recording four key passes and completing 63 of 70 passes overall to keep Republic FC in control of the game.

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