In the final analysis, there was little to separate San Antonio FC and Sacramento Republic FC at Toyota Field on Saturday night.

Each side ended the game with 15 shots, with the hosts arguably creating marginally the better chances.

Both teams were rock solid defensively, with San Antonio narrowly claiming a higher success rate in duels and aerials, but not to a margin that would matter.

San Antonio committed more fouls. Sacramento received more yellow cards.

And both sides came away feeling they could have won despite the challenges the contest posed.

For San Antonio, it was a matter of personnel. Without 2022 Championship Defender of the Year Mitchell Taintor, the defending title holders were forced into a realignment defensively. Connor Maloney dropped into the back line, PC had to play at right wingback, and after substitutions in the second half there were more adjustments for Head Coach Alen Marcina to make.

“Kimarni [Smith] had to go in late as a left wingback,” said Marcina. “We haven’t played him there this year, you had Connor [Maloney] first time playing center back [this season], played him there. Zico [Bailey], then we had to switch Shannon [Gomez] who’s coming off an injury. Then he’s going to the left and then coming to the right, PC had to start… that’s a lot of moves in the back. But we didn’t miss a beat, and that’s impressive. In my eyes, that’s highly impressive.”

For Sacramento, there was the fatigue from an Open Cup contest it had made harder than it needed, and the challenge of taking on the side with the longest active home undefeated streak in the league. Republic FC matched the effort and work-rate of the hosts and were pleased to walk away with their point.

There’s no easing up for either squad, particularly this week.

Sacramento will head home to take on the Switchbacks, the side that eliminated Briggs’ squad from the playoffs last year. For San Antonio, it’s a rematch of the 2022 Championship Final, this time with Louisville City FC playing host at Lynn Family Stadium.

For both sets of players, it’s exactly the sort of challenge they relish.

“Coach [Marcina] said it before the match – these are games you want to play in because of the intensity and the atmosphere,” said San Antonio goalkeeper Jordan Farr. “As far as a playoff atmosphere that’s what you want every game, and they brought it. We brought it. And it’s going to be the same. I mean Louisville, they don’t have short-term memory. They know what happened in November, so it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be fun.”

The postseason is still six months away, but its potential for drama is right here in front of us.