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Matchday Preview: Sacramento Republic FC vs. Tacoma Defiance

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 10/01/21, 9:57AM EDT

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Republic FC, Defiance face key game for both club’s playoff hopes at Heart Health Park


Both Tacoma Defiance and Sacramento Republic FC are in need of victory to boost their playoff chances as they meet on Saturday night at Heart Health Park. | Photo courtesy Charis Wilson / Tacoma Defiance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC and Tacoma Defiance will both try to boost their postseason chances on Saturday night at Heart Health Park as both sides try to rebound from home defeats in their most recent outings. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.

@SacRepublicFC (7-10-8, 29pts) fell to a 2-0 defeat to the LA Galaxy II last Sunday afternoon at Heart Health Park as it missed out on an opportunity to move into the Pacific Division playoff positions. The race still remains tight with seven games to go, however, and Republic FC could move back level on points with Los Dos – who enter the weekend in fourth place – if the side can replicate its 1-0 victory when it last squared off with the Defiance at Cheney Stadium on September 22. A late winner by Dariusz Formella earned the side victory that night, and gave the Polish forward his fifth goal in as many games against the Defiance since joining Sacramento two years ago. Should Republic FC fail to take victory, however, it would be another serious blow to the club’s playoff chances as it looks to maintain a seven-year run of reaching the USL Championship Playoffs.

@TacDefiance (8-10-6, 30pts) is still looking for a winning breakthrough after a late 2-1 defeat to Phoenix Rising FC last Saturday night at Cheney Stadium that saw Samuel Adeniran find the net, but the visitors respond with a 90th-minute winner to dash the side’s hopes of a point. The Defiance have now lost five games in a row and will be looking for their first win since a 2-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on September 2 as they arrive in Sacramento on Saturday. Despite that, Tacoma still controls its playoff destiny with a game in hand on all three of Sacramento, Los Dos and Oakland Roots SC, and with a win could move itself back into the playoff positions by the end of the night’s action.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Sacramento Republic FC 58%, Tacoma Defiance 16%, Draw 26%

Most Recent Lineups

Sacramento Republic FC (4-2-3-1): Rafael Diaz; Jordan McCrary, Nabi Kibunguchy, Dan Casey, Duke Lacroix; Luis Felipe Fernandes, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu; Kharlton Belmar, Emil Cuello, Dariusz Formella; Jerome Kiesewetter

Tacoma Defiance (3-4-3): Christian Herrera; Jackson Ragen, Taylor Mueller, AB Cissoko; Joe Hafferty, Tom Brewitt, Reed Baker-Whiting, Randy Mendoza; Obed Vargas, Samuel Adeniran, Ray Serrano

Discipline

Sacramento Republic FC – None

Tacoma Defiance – None

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