SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC overcame a pair of deficits in the wildest game of the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night as a pair of goals apiece by Zeiko Lewis and Russell Cicerone paved the way to a 5-4 victory after extra time against Crossfire Redmond at Heart Health Park.

Five combined goals were scored in the additional 30 minutes time with both clubs gunning for the next round before Johnny Fenwick’s first goal in Republic FC colors proved the winner in the 113th minute.

A valiant effort by the visiting side kept Sacramento on their heels all evening as the club avoided an early cupset exit. Crossfire got off to a fast start, opening the scoring to Sacramento’s surprise just seven minutes in through Richard Aman. A defensive lapse allowed Crossfire to net another as River Stewart doubled Crossfires advantage less than 15 minutes into the game.

After not trailing once in the Open Cup last season prior to the Final, Sacramento was forced to fight back. Coming out of the halftime break still trailing by a pair of goals, Lewis went close to finding the breakthrough around the hour mark but was denied by Crossfire goalkeeper Saif Kerewala.

Sacramento cut their deficit in half with ten minutes to go in regulation. After fielding a cross from Jack Gurr, Aldair Sanchez found Lewis inside the six-yard box for a close-range finish, earning Sanchez his first assist in the professional ranks. Cicerone then leveled the score with five minutes to go off another assist from Sanchez, and it appeared Sacramento had righted the ship.

Crossfire regained the lead two minutes into extra time, however, as Munier Hussen struck before Cicerone pulled Sacramento level again with his fifth goal in all competitions this season in the 97th minute as Gurr provided the assist.

Lewis then bagged his second of the match in the 105th minute to give Sacramento its first lead of the night, but it would prove short-lived as Aman leveled again with nine minutes to go in extra time. Fenwick provided the final goal of the night for the hosts, however, to send Sacramento into the Third Round for an eighth consecutive tournament.