Photo courtesy Lori Scholl / Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Sacramento Republic FC had work to do this offseason when the signing of 2016 USL All-League selection Cameron Iwasa by Sporting Kansas City was announced, but in the combination of newcomer Sammy Ochoa and young returnee Wilson Kneeshaw, Republic FC’s attack is clicking on all cylinders far sooner than in years past.
Republic FC, which faces OKC Energy FC on Tuesday night in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 (8:30 p.m. ET | Preview), is off to a perfect 3-0-0 start to the season, and has recorded a club-best eight goals in its first three games. A major reason why is the chemistry that’s quickly developed between its two strikers. After an underwhelming performance in the first game of the season by another newcomer, Trevin Caesar, who drifted in and out of the game without making much impact, Kneeshaw’s introduction has resulted in the duo recording four goals and two assists over the past two games.
Looking below at the duo’s activity chart and heat map from Saturday’s game against Tulsa and it’s not difficult to see why. The pair of Ochoa and Kneeshaw work as a duo, with Ochoa providing strong hold-up play that Kneeshaw can then use his speed to create off.
Kneeshaw (8) & Ochoa (13)
Sacramento Republic FC at Tulsa, 4/8/17
KNEESHAW & OCHOA HEATMAP
SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC AT TULSA, 4/8/17
Kneeshaw’s goal against the Roughnecks was a great illustration, with Ochoa’s knockdown header placed in the perfect spot for the Arden Archer to finish.
Both Energy FC, with Mickey Daly and Coady Andrews, and the Swope Park Rangers, with Amer Didic and Oumar Ballo, have strong center back pairings, which should provide an ample test for Ochoa and Kneeshaw. If they come through as they have the past two games, though, Republic FC could be looking at topping 50 goals in a regular season for the first time in club history.
TURNING THE SCREW: Adam Najem was rated as the top midfielder in the Premier Development League a year ago as he helped lead the Michigan Bucks to a second PDL Championship in three seasons, and on Sunday the Bethlehem Steel FC rookie showed why in his performance against FC Cincinnati. With his side up a man for much of the game after Paul Nicholson’s early sending off, Najem helped Steel FC dominate the midfield to key a 2-0 victory, Bethlehem’s first of the season.
Najem recorded a game-high 69 passes, a little more than 16 percent of Steel FC’s total of 422, and did so with precision, completing at a 91 percent accuracy rate. The 22-year-old also won three duels, losing only one, and won his one aerial duel.
Bethlehem Steel FC's Adam Najem
Passing Chart vs. FC Cincinnati,4/9/17
Seku Conneh’s brace may have got the headlines on the day, but Najem’s performance set the tempo for Steel FC as it made its advantage against a good Cincinnati side pay off.
MIDFIELD DRIVE: Another notable midfield performance this weekend came from Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2’s Ben McKendry, who provided major impetus throughout as WFC2 took a 3-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2.
With WFC2 employing Sem de Wit in a slightly more advanced role than his normal center back position, McKendry was given the opportunity to roam the field more widely. He took advantage, popping up all over the pitch to try and influence the play going forward, while also making sure to be defensively responsible. McKendry made four tackles, recorded five clearances and recorded seven recoveries in the game, six of which came in the second half as Seattle tried to find a way back into the contest.
WFC2's Ben McKendry
Heat Map vs. Seattle, 4/8/17
Surprisingly, though, McKendry wasn't as sharp as normal with the ball at his feet. Compare the passing chart to the right with that of Najem's above. The giveaways either in WFC2’s half, or straight out of play, led to a 71 percent completion rate against Seattle.
McKendry is usually better than this. His overall passing completion rate for the season is 81 percent and he leads WFC2 with eight chances created, and that’s with Saturday’s performance factored in.
Should McKendry up his consistency with the ball at his feet to the level of his work rate around the field, he could make a major leap forward this season and help WFC2 reach the USL Cup Playoffs for a second consecutive year in the process.
WFC2'S BEN MCKENDRY
PASSING CHART VS. SEATTLE, 4/8/17
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