Sacramento Republic FC took a 4-0 victory against New Mexico United before a sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Heart Health Park on Sunday night to move back into second place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference in the final league game in September.

Here are three things we took away from the contest.

1. REPUBLIC FC MADE ITS FAST START STICK

When Sacramento Republic FC and New Mexico United squared off at Isotopes Park on Sept. 18, Republic FC put in a dominant first-half performance on the road and through poor finishing and great scrambling United defense didn’t get the payoff they likely deserved. That wasn’t the case on Sunday night as Republic FC not only got an early goal, but then accelerated through the finish line in one of its most complete performances of the season.

Yes, there was an element of good fortune on Russell Cicerone’s sixth-minute opener that caromed in off his shoulder after Luis Felipe Fernandes headed Justin Portillo’s corner kick goalward, but there was no let-up in the incisiveness with which Sacramento played. Aside from a strong spell by United in the final 15 minutes of the second half that saw Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello shine to preserve the club’s home shutout streak – now at 407 minutes – the hosts were in control. What’s more, the second-half fades that have plagued the side in its recent losses away from home were nowhere to be found.

Sacramento has entered a serious battle for second place in the West over the last few weeks with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Las Vegas Lights FC having dropped Republic FC to fourth at kickoff. This was the response Sacramento needed to start a final drive to the finish line.

2. LUIS FELIPE TAKES CENTER STAGE

This has been a puzzling season for Luis Felipe Fernandes. The central midfielder has put up impressive numbers in his box-to-box role, but until he found the net for Republic FC’s second goal of the night he hadn’t found the net in the league this season. In fact, the only other game this season in which he had bagged a goal and assist was Sacramento’s thrilling extra time victory against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in May.

When the 28-year-old is at his best, however, he delivers performances like Sunday’s. Fernandes not only contributed on the scoresheet but was key to Republic FC’s smooth movement in possession while also showing his ability to press and win possession in midfield. He tied for the second-most touches for Republic FC, completed 34 of 40 passes and had three chances created, and also led the side in winning possession six times while winning 3 of 4 tackles. Sacramento’s collective quality was on display in the win, but Fernandes found another gear the side will be hoping he can maintain.

3. NEW MEXICO DOESN’T HAVE TO WORRY

New Mexico United has been one of the best road teams in the USL Championship this season, taking 22 points from 14 away trips prior to Sunday night’s defeat. If anything, this result was a throwback to early this season when the side went on the road and suffered heavy defeats to the Charleston Battery (4-0) and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (3-0) before the start of May.

As much as United will want to take lessons from this contest – after its chances late in the first half, it didn’t threaten consistently enough in the second half to challenge Republic FC, with only one of its six shots coming inside the penalty area – it is still in complete control of its path to the No. 1 seed in the West with a 10-point lead on Republic FC. With the upcoming week off before it returns to action on October 9 at home to Phoenix Rising FC, New Mexico can take stock and load up for the biggest postseason of its history in November.