SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. and Sacramento Republic FC played to a 2-2 draw in a preseason contest at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Sam Gleadle and Alex Dixon scored a minute apart to stake Monterey Bay to a lead, but Sacramento countered with two late goals of their own through a pair of goals by Jack Gurr.

Monterey Bay first threatened in the 10th minute when Dixon found space in the right side of the 18-yard box only to send his short wide of the near post. Sacramento came close to breaking the deadlock 20 minutes later when Matt LaGrassa just went wide of the left post. Soon after, MBFC’s Morey Doner fired a pass across the penalty area towards Simon Dawkins, but his right-footed shot was saved at the near post by Republic FC’s Carlos Saldana.

The hosts found a breakthrough a minute before the halftime break, however, as Dixon made a run down the left side of the penalty area. His attempt to chip the goalkeeper was knocked down, but he managed to get back onto the ball and flick it into the center of the box toward Gleadle for a first-time finish into the back of the net. Less than a minute later, the duo reversed roles to double the lead when Gleadle fired a ball across the penalty area toward Dixon, who smashed the ball past the goalkeeper and inside the left post.

MBFC went close to adding to its lead with 18 minutes to go when Max Glasser found Walmer Martínez at the top of the penalty area, but the El Salvador international’s left-footed shot missed just wide of the left post. Sacramento then pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when Gurr picked out a shot just inside the post to bring Republic FC within one.

The visitors looked likely to level the score five minutes later, but Gurr’s shot was blocked away by Monterey Bay defender Hugh Roberts. Republic FC continued to apply pressure with a shot on goal in the 88th, but a diving save by MBFC’s Carlos Herrera kept the visitors off the board. The visitors found the equalizer a minute later when Gurr put home his second of the game to leave the NorCal rivals all square.