Sacramento Republic FC rallied to take a 2-1 victory against New Mexico United before a sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Heart Health Park on Saturday night on the opening weekend of the 2025 USL Championship season, giving new Head Coach Neill Collins a win in his first game at the helm for the hosts.

Here are three things I took away from the contest.

1. LEWIS JAMIESON HAD AN IDEAL REPUBLIC FC DEBUT

There were four offseason newcomers in Neill Collins’ first starting lineup for Republic FC, and while each provided a positive contribution, forward Lewis Jamieson proved the pick of the quartet with a lively performance that saw him record a game-high six shots and notch the eventual game-winner. The 22-year-old – who joined Sacramento via transfer this offseason from Scottish Premiership club St. Mirren – was consistently active in the final third, setting up as the central striker in Republic FC’s three-player front line, but showing a good understanding with veteran forward Russell Cicerone that produced chances for both.

Jamieson played a key role in both of Republic FC’s goals, first capitalizing on a slack pass by Kalen Ryden before drawing a penalty kick that Cicerone put home just before halftime to bring the game level and then proving alert to knock home the rebound after Cicerone’s initial header had hit the right post. There have been plenty of positive debuts at Heart Health Park over the years, and Jamieson’s now sits alongside them.

“Unbelievable,” said Jamieson. “The fans turned out in the numbers like we all knew they would, and it’s a surreal moment for myself, obviously, on my debut in front of all the fans to score my goals, for the strikers, it’s a dream.”

2. SACRAMENTO’S PRESSURE MADE THE DIFFERENCE

One of the keys to this matchup of the last two teams to top the Western Conference was how New Mexico’s willingness to hold possession and try to pick its way through Republic FC would be countered by the higher pressure implemented by new Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins. In the end, it provided the crucial moment in the game when Jamieson’s interception of Ryden’s pass just outside the United penalty area turned into not only a penalty kick but a red card for New Mexico’s captain just before halftime.

Sacramento converted, then added a second within two minutes of the second half kickoff to turn the game around, and while New Mexico showed some creative attempts to get back into the game – Sergio Rivas’ clever chipped cross to an offside Mukwelle Akale showing how the visitors could combine with Sacramento in a lower defensive block – were unable to find a way back. Notably, Republic FC’s Danny Vitiello wasn’t called into action after the break, ending the night with three first-half saves.

In all, 44 percent of the game was played in New Mexico’s defensive third, while Republic FC won possession seven times in the attacking third compared to none for the visitors. Those two numbers summed up how Sacramento was able to maintain a good level of control in a chippy second half.

3 NEW MEXICO’S SHOWED POSITIVE TRANSITIONAL MOMENTS

If Ryden’s red card was symbolic of what can happen when the ideas New Mexico is working off go wrong, there was plenty in the first half to illustrate that new Head Coach Dennis Sanchez’s side is going to be a dangerous one moving forward. When United was able to break Sacramento’s pressure, it produced good opportunities as New Mexico showed fluidity in motion that put Republic FC under pressure.

McKinze Gaines’ speed on the left side and positive touches by Greg Hurst as the lone striker shone early on, while Tomas Pondeca was unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 20th minute with a rasping shot that hit the right post after a good sequence out of the back sent him into space in the Republic FC half. A minute later, Hurst provided the opening goal as Akale’s speed going downhill through the midfield set up the Scottish forward for a nicely taken finish. It didn’t earn United a result in its season-opener, but it was a big positive to take away that should have future opponents on alert.