SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A late goal by Duke Lacroix earned Sacramento Republic FC a 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 8,706 fans at Heart Health Stadium, maintaining Sacramento’s undefeated all-time record against their visitors after their 11th meeting.

Tulsa had an early sighter in the 10th minute when Brian Brown sent a low shot from the top-right edge of the penalty area on target that was saved by Sacramento’s Danny Vitiello, but the visitors grabbed the lead 19 minutes later when Petar Cuic’s angled cross from the left channel found Rodrigo da Costa in the center of the penalty area for a header that just sent the ball into the right corner of the net. Tulsa’s lead was short-lived, however, as four minutes later Honduran international Douglas Martinez Jr. was brought down in the penalty area as he tried to break onto a through-ball by Rodrigo Lopez. Martinez stepped up to the spot and shot low to the right corner for his second goal of the season.

Republic FC twice had a chance to take the lead within 10 minutes of the restart only to be denied by Tulsa goalkeeper Sean Lewis. Martinez was the first to be denied as he controlled a cross by Keko from the right at the top of the six-yard area but was unable to squeeze a finish past Lewis, and then a minute later the ball deflected kindly for Lopez, whose half-volleyed finish from 16 yards was punched away by the goalkeeper. Tulsa also threatened on the hour-mark, but J.J. Williams’ flicked header from 10 yards was saved by Vitiello.

The hosts almost grabbed the lead with 10 minutes to go when Lacroix struck the left post with a shot from the left side of the penalty area. In the 86th minute, however, Lacroix delivered as a clever flicked pass by Martinez slid the second-half substitute into the left side of the penalty area, and he finished with aplomb with a powerful shot to the near post. Tulsa went close to a late equalizer as Da Costa curled a shot just wide of the left post from 20 yards, but the hosts held firm in stoppage time to earn a second home win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Douglas Martinez Jr., Sacramento Republic FC – Martinez recorded a goal and assist, setting up Republic FC’s late winner, and had two shots and three key passes overall for the hosts.

Scoring Summary
TUL – Rodrigo da Costa (Petar Cuic) 29’
SAC – Douglas Martinez Jr. (Penalty Kick) 33’
SAC – Duke Lacroix (Douglas Martinez Jr.) 86’

Full Box Score