SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Rodrigo Lopez and Luther Archimede both converted from the penalty spot as Sacramento Republic FC earned a 2-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night at Heart Health Park as the hosts claimed their third win of the season in the first meeting against their newest regional rival.

Republic FC had the first pair of chances in the ninth minute as first a volleyed effort by Jack Gurr off a corner kick by Lopez to the top of the penalty area was blocked before Lopez regained possession and delivered a cross that Dan Casey headed on target, forcing a save from Monterey Bay’s Dallas Jaye. The visitors carved out their first good chance just prior to the half-hour mark when James Murphy’s long-range effort was redirected by Seku Conneh and saved by Sacramento’s Danny Vitiello, but the game went to the halftime break scoreless.

The breakthrough almost came for the hosts in the 62nd minute when Gurr delivered another powerful long-range strike from the right channel after a half-clearance that rattled off the left post, spun across the goalmouth and drifted wide of the opposite post. Another chance arrived for Lopez soon after as his turning shot was deflected wide of the right post, but with 14 minutes to go, Monterey Bay spurned the best chance of the game to that point as Chris Cortez was unable to turn home a cross from the left by Walmer Martinez at close range, sending his finish wide of the right post.

Sacramento almost immediately capitalized as on their next foray forward as Duke Lacroix drove past his defender on the left side and was pulled down inside the penalty area. Lopez stepped up to the spot and fired past the dive of Jaye into the right corner of the net to put the hosts ahead, and Republic FC was then awarded a second chance from the spot with three minutes to go when second-half substitute Archimede was knocked over while pursuing a loose ball in the penalty area. The Guadeloupe international took the kick himself and shot low into the left corner. MBFC produced a late answer of its own as Chase Boone headed home into the right corner off a cross from the left by Robbie Crawford, but it proved too late for the visitors as Sacramento held on for all three points.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Rodrigo Lopez, Sacramento Republic FC – Lopez scored the opening goal from the penalty spot and had three shots and four chances created overall while completing 32 of 43 passes.

Scoring Summary
SAC – Rodrigo Lopez (Penalty Kick) 78’
SAC – Luther Archimede (Penalty Kick) 87’
MB – Chase Boone (Robbie Crawford) 90+1’

Full Box Score