Sacramento Republic FC's Cameron Iwasa became the eighth player to record 50 regular season goals in the USL Championship on Saturday night, highlighting a thrilling night of action that also saw the Charlotte Independence and Charleston Battery both rally to take victory while overcoming two-goal deficits, and Hartford Athletic taking a big step toward a place in the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs with victory against the New York Red Bulls II.

Elsewhere, Louisville City FC moved nearer to the top two spots in Group E with a win over Loudoun United FC, while Saint Louis FC provided themselves a cushion in Group E with a 3-1 win over Sporting KC II at West Community Stadium. Orange County SC devised a needed 1-0 win over Las Vegas Lights FC for a third-consecutive clean sheet. Then, Reno 1868 FC produced an emphatic 5-2 win to increase their lead at the top of Group A, while Sacramento Republic FC kept pace with a 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance as Iwasa reached a landmark moment in his career.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC kept pace with Group A leaders Reno 1868 FC with a 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance, highlighted by forward Cameron Iwasa’s 50th all-time regular season goal in the USL Championship.

Republic FC looked dominant from the start as forward Dariusz Formella had an effort in the 9th minute denied by Christian Herrera, but Formella would not be kept at bay long as he netted the game’s first goal in the 14th minute to give the hosts the lead. 

In the 21st minute, Villyan Bijev was thwarted in his attempt to double Sacramento’s lead, but Bijev would turn from near scorer to provider in the 33rd minute when he broke through the defense and laid off a tap-in for Republic FC’s Cameron Iwasa for the game’s second goal, and Iwasa’s 50th career goal in the Championship. Then, after 41 minutes, Formella added Sacramento’s third of the evening when he settled a high cross and fired home past Defiance goalkeeper Christian Herrera to take a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.

However, just five minutes into the second half, Defiance’s Jesús Pérez picked out Sam Rogers from a corner kick, and the unmarked Rogers ripped an effort past Republic FC goalkeeper Rafael Diaz to pull one back. The goal would ultimately prove consolation though, with Republic FC getting the final laugh in the 3-1 win.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dariusz Formella, Sacramento Republic FC – Formella’s brace ultimately lifted Sacramento to victory, with forward adding to his two goals by creating three additional chances and completing over 78 percent of his passes.

RENO, Nev. – Reno 1868 FC poured out on the offensive end to put five past Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday night in a 5-2 victory over the visitors at Greater Nevada Field.

A four-goal onslaught in the first half helped position Reno 1868 FC for success on Saturday, and the action began in the 25th minute as Corey Hertzog turned in an effort past T2 goalkeeper Jake Leeker for his 65th regular season goal of all-time, moving him into third overall in Championship history. Three minutes later, Christiano Francois used his pace to get to the byline before crossing for Sergio Rivas, who headed home past Leeker to double the lead.

In the 38th minute, Reno added a third goal through Tucker Bone after he took a pass from Brent Richards and cut inside, receiving a generous deflection from a T2 defender before his shot trickled over the line to help increase the lead. Not done yet in the first half, Reno piled on a fourth as Francois provided again, this time for Hertzog, who headed in from nine yards out to add to T2’s troubles.

Moving into the second half, Reno would add a fifth goal just after the hour mark as Foster Langsdorf looped a header over Leeker following Brent Richards’ aerial cross. T2 would respond, though, pulling one back in the 72nd minute after Caleb Kiner picked out Jorge Gonzalez Asensi in the center of the box for the visitor’s first goal of the evening. Four minutes later, T2’s Gerardo Durán played in Marcus Epps, who crafted a right-footed finish to score the visitor’s second goal of the night, though it ultimately proved consolation.

With the win, Reno 1868 FC moved further into first place, separated from Sacramento Republic FC with the emphatic win.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Corey Hertzog, Reno 1868 FC – Hertzog’s brace helped lead 1868 FC to victory, but the forward also contributed an additional chance created and completed over 84 percent of his passes on the night.

IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC earned a narrow 1-0 win over Group B rivals thanks to midfielder Aodhan Quinn’s second half strike to put the hosts in front for good.

The first half of action saw both goalkeepers for OCSC and Lights FC produce spectacular saves to keep the score level, beginning with Orange County SC’s Frederik Due, who in the 13th minute got a hand on a curling effort from Lights FC forward Bryan de la Fuente to stop a shot destined for the top corner from reaching it. Then, it was Lights FC goalkeeper Edward Delgado’s turn as he denied efforts by Aodhan Quinn and Diego López in the 18th and 20th minute.

A second half packed with action, the hosts initially thought they’d found the opening goal in the 47th minute only for Sean Okoli’s effort from close in to be blocked by a Lights FC defender to keep things level. However, OCSC would eventually find their separation in the 69th minute when a tidy one-two between Orange County’s Brian Iloski and Aodhan Quinn resulted in Quinn toe-poking an effort past Delgado from close in.

In the 79th minute, Delgado came up a with a huge saved to again keep his team in contention. However, OCSC staved off a late comeback from Las Vegas hold firm in second place in Group B, level on points with San Diego Loyal SC after 8 games played.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Aodhan Quinn, Orange County SC – Quinn scored Orange County’s lone goal but also completed over 77 percent of his passes and created an additional chance to help see the hosts over the line against Las Vegas.

FENTON, Mo. – Saint Louis FC held firm and relied on a second half strike from Mour Samb to snap a three-game winless streak and defeat Sporting KC II at West Community Stadium.

The hosts wasted no time getting in front when, after 5 minutes of action, Wal Fall found Russell Cicerone in the box on the left side where the forward produced a curling effort to beat SKC II goalkeeper Gavin Krenecki and open the scoring.

STL FC goalkeeper Kyle Morton produced a needed save in the 14th minute, but Sporting KC II would not be kept at bay all night and eventually found an equalizer in the 40th minute as Camden Riley took a powerful pass near the byline and squared a ball for Christian Duke, who powered home an effort past Morton.

Into the second half and following a lengthy delay due to inclement weather, Krenecki made a pair of saves in the 48th and 65th minutes that would keep SKC II level, but the hosts would ultimately breakthrough in the 69th minute on the breakaway when Mour Samb took a pass from Kyle Greig and clipped an effort to the far post and into the side netting past Krenecki to restore the lead.

Following a late hydration break, Saint Louis FC added to its one goal advantage when Joaquin Rivas took a pass from Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé in stride before pushing a low effort past Krenecki to tally a third goal. Late on, SKC II’s Javeh Rad received a straight red card in stoppage time to bring the visitors to ten men, but STLFC secured a crucial win to separate themselves from challengers Louisville City FC in second place in Group E.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Russell Cicerone, Saint Louis FC – Cicerone opened the scoring for the hosts while also creating an additional chance and completing just shy of 90 percent of his passes in the win.

OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC Energy FC and Rio Grande Valley FC dueled to a scoreless draw on Saturday night, leaving the pair in the bottom two of Group D. 

The game opened quietly, and it took until the 36th minute for either side to seriously threaten when Energy FC’s Joe Amico played in José Hernández for a sharp shot from the left side of the penalty area that was parried away by Toros goalkeeper Paul Blanchette. Two minutes later, Blanchette came up big again as Amico fired a low shot from just inside the penalty area that was also turned away.

The second half proved a battle of goalkeepers, with OKC Energy FC ‘netminder C.J. Cochran coming up big for his side in the second half, first smothering an effort in the 50th minute that prevented a breakaway goal for the hosts, and again in the 75th minute denying a looping effort from well outside the area following a corner kick. In the 80th minute, Jaime Chavez produced a fine save from RGVFC goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, who pushed a curling effort over the bar to prevent a winner.

Both Blanchette and Cochran would prove equal to efforts once more in the final quarter of an hour, meaning the goalkeeper duel would keep things scoreless through the 90 minutes.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Paul Blanchette, Rio Grande Valley FC – Blanchette was active in goal, making four vital saves in addition to two punched clearances to keep a clean sheet on the road.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC earned a needed three points against Loudoun United FC, defeating the visitors 2-0 after goals from Cameron Lancaster and Napo Matsoso helped move City closer to a playoff position.

Neither side created much early, but LouCity produced a good chance in the 19th minute when a cutback from the right side of the penalty area by Corben Bone found Speedy Williams arriving late, but Loudoun’s Allexon Saravia made a good block to deny the opportunity. United’s Tyler Gabarra almost struck for the visitors in the 37th minute but his outstanding weaving run into the penalty area from the left ended with a shot that bent wide of the right post.

Two minutes later, instead, it was Louisville that took the lead as Alexis Souahy played a long ball forward that released Cameron Lancaster into the Loudoun penalty area. Lancaster controlled in the left side of the area, cut inside a pair of defenders and fired home at the near post for his fourth goal of the season. 

Holding the one goal advantage moving into the second half, Louisville struck quickly out of the gates as Paolo DelPiccolo played Napo Matsoso in goal, and the defender produced a poised finish past goalkeeper Colin Miller to double City’s advantage.

Louisville goalkeeper Ben Lundt would make a pair of saves in the second half to ensure a clean sheet, but City’s win edges the club closer to the coveted second place spot in Group E, currently held by Saint Louis FC, as the push for the playoffs continues. 

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – Lancaster netted the winner in the first half but put in an impressive 78-minute shift, creating an additional chance, winning 6 of 9 duels and completing over 94% of his passes.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Battery produced an impressive comeback, rising up from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory, including a stoppage time winner, to move into second place in Group H.

Entering with a chance to pull level on points with the Battery in Group H, Atlanta got out to an ideal start when Amadou Diop fired home a low finish from 25 yards that picked out the bottom-right corner of the net. Coleman Gannon then went close for the visitors in the 38th minute with a volleyed finish from 14 yards that went just over the top-left corner off a cross from the right by Amir Bashti. 

Beginning the second half with a one-goal advantage, the visitors needed just six minutes to tally their second of the night when 16-year-old new signing Efrain Morales bundled the ball over the line following a corner kick that the Battery could not properly clear.

The Battery would not go away quietly, though, and their comeback began in the 57th minute when Romario Piggott played to Mauro Cichero inside the penalty area, where Cichero shifted inside to his left to curl an effort past goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard to pull back a goal. Two minutes later, the Battery found an equalizer when Zeiko Lewis took a direct pass from Angelo Kelly-Rosales on the turn inside the 18-yard box and slotted home for the hosts’ second goal in as many minutes.

Completing the full comeback, the Battery scored the decider in the 91st minute when A.J. Paterson’s pass over the top of the defense found Cichero, who squared the ball for Lewis to tap home from a few yards out as Charleston claimed an important three points at home.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Zeiko Lewis, Charleston Battery – Lewis scored twice to help lift the Battery to victory, while also creating four chances and completing just shy of 74% of his passes.

MATTHEWS, N.C. – The Independence rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second half to take victory against 901 FC to earn their first win at the Sportsplex at Matthews this season and boost their postseason chances in Group G.

Memphis almost got out to an ideal start after 39 seconds as Keanu Marsh-Brown’s cross from the right was headed just over the crossbar by Brandon Allen. Duane Muckette also went close for the visitors in the 10th minute as his powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area went just wide of the left post. The visitors took the lead three minutes later, however, as Muckette chipped a pass to Mark Segbers in the right side of the penalty area, and Segbers’ finish squeezed past Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller.

Allen almost doubled the lead for Memphis in the 23rd minute as his turning shot from the left side of the penalty area was punched away by Miller. The Independence’s Tresor Mbuyu then went close to producing a Goal of the Year candidate as he connected with Rey Ortiz’s chipped cross from the right side of the penalty area, but his bicycle kick rang off the crossbar and away to safety.

After lightning delayed the start of the second half, Memphis doubled its lead six minutes into the second half when a good angled cross by Segbers picked out Rafael Mentzingen for a volleyed finish from eight yards that found the right corner of the net. The Independence’s comeback began almost immediately, however, as Joel Johnson’s cross from the right found Kelly at the near post for a half-volleyed finish into the right corner.

Charlotte then pulled level on the hour-mark as Memphis goalkeeper Jimmy Hague gave up a rebound on a powerful shot by Ortiz from 25 yards and brought down Brunallergene Etou as both went for the ball. Enzo Martinez stepped up and shot into the right corner of the net as Hague went the wrong way. The Independence grabbed the lead nine minutes later as Johnson sent a long pass down the right for Luke Haakenson, and the Nashville SC loanee cut into the penalty area and fired a low shot into the left corner of the net to complete the rally.

The Independence twice almost added to their lead as Jake Areman spooned his finish off target after getting in behind Memphis’ back line in the 71st minute, while Kelly was denied his second of the night by a good save from Hague with two minutes to go. There would be no late response from 901 FC, however, as Charlotte recorded a remarkable comeback.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dane Kelly, Charlotte Independence – Kelly helped spark a turnaround after coming on as a halftime substitute, scoring the opening goal of Charlotte’s comeback and recording three shots overall for the hosts.

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Athletic sent the Red Bulls II to a fourth consecutive defeat while moving into first place in Group F as a pair of first half goals proved enough for victory at Dillon Stadium.

Looking to add to their lead in the playoff race in Group F, the Athletic almost struck in the third minute when Danny Barrera released Alex Dixon in behind the defense, but the forward’s lobbed finish bounced just wide of the right post. New York then got a big chance of its own in the eighth minute as a low cross by Jake LaCava was palmed into the center of the penalty area by Hartford goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda, but Deri Corfe couldn’t put his finish on target.

Hartford threatened again on a long-range effort by Arthur Rogers in the 10th minute, but the hosts took the lead in the 21st minute when Barrera delivered a cross from the left that picked out Dixon for a header that found the bottom-right corner of the net. The Athletic doubled their lead five minutes before halftime, though, as New York goalkeeper Alex Bobocea couldn’t corral a corner kick by Barrera, allowing Sam Strong to tap in from close range.

The Athletic almost added a third midway through the second half as Mads Jorgensen fired a shot from 25 yards that was smartly turned wide by Bobocea in the New York net, but instead it was the Red Bulls II that struck with 16 minutes to go as Caden Clark was played into the right side of the penalty area and picked out Sebastian Elney for a first-time finish to the left corner of the net. Hartford would see out the victory from there, however, and claim another good home victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic – Barrera added another assist and recorded four chances created overall and three shots to help power the Athletic to a big win for their postseason chances.