Sacramento Republic FC 2, Wilmington Hammerheads 0
On a cool evening, Sacramento Republic FC would extend their unbeaten streak of seven games with a 2-0 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads in front of a 9th sell-out of 8000 people. Thomas Stewart would follow up his three goal performance in Orange County last week with a goal in the 15th minute. Overall, the play was very one-sided as Wilmington looked content to sit back, absorb pressure. and break on the counter. Ultimately, Sacramento’s skill on the ball was too much to handle. The Delta Breeze seemed to effect some of the aerial balls lobbed into the final third by the Republic, but they countered by using the width of the pitch to work it in behind the Hammerheads back line.
Dominik Jakubek got the start in goal for Sacramento, as Jake Gleeson had just stepped off the plane after traveling with the Portland Timbers down to Guyana. Jakubek had a relatively slow night, but in the second half Wilmington started to press. Jakubek stepped up to the challenge though, stopping a hard shot from Sammy Ochoa in the 61st minute, and parrying away one from Sunny Jane in the 68th minute, then knocking the rebounded ball off an opposing player. In the 76th minute, defender Emrah Klimenta would out-muscle one of his counterparts, and after no whistle was blown, continued his way to goal, slotting home a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Sacramento Republic FC Coach Preki was pleased with the outcome, but knows there is still much to prove. Still, he isn’t worried about keeping his players motivated. “I don’t see how you cannot be motivated; you haven’t won anything. If you won 10 league titles in a row, I can say motivation might be lacking. But we’re a first year team, and we’re trying to do something special. And right here, if you can’t sustain it through 28 league games, plus playoffs, you shouldn’t be here, and you won’t be here.”
Behind the great streak is the goal scoring of Thomas Stewart. With six goals in the last five matches, he’s been a stalwart in the offense, but knows the job isn’t done. “Our home form has been excellent. We want to finish the season as high as we can, and end up guaranteeing us home advantage until the end of the season and in the playoffs. So that’s our main aim, to finish as strong as we can. We believe we can beat most teams in the league, any team, so we go in with good confidence.”
One thing that hasn’t been lost on the players is the fan support. Dominik Jakubek spoke about the support, and how much he loves it. “They’re pretty nuts. Every time I look at them they start cheering; they go crazy. But it’s pretty special, being a local kid. We’re doing it for the fans, and without them you’re just at a boring soccer game. So I love it. (They should) keep doing it. Get (crazier)!”
Emrah Klimenta also had kind words to say about the support. “It’s massive. I’ve personally never played for a team that sells out like this, it’s unreal. They give us that extra boost, that extra motivation. The fans here are catching up on the footballing, whenever we switch the ball from one side to the other you hear the roar, as in good switching it from one side to the other job, relieving the pressure. And that just gives you the extra boost. I don’t know if I can go 90 minutes without them to be honest with you. And on the away games there aren’t that many fans out there, it’s a little boring out there. But our fans have been great, the best fans in the league, and on behalf of the team I just want to thank them.”
With this win The Sacramento Republic have clinched a first round home game in the playoffs. They will get a week to rest and recuperate before hosting the Charleston Battery next Wednesday at Bonney Field; with three regular season home games left, they’ll look to build on the team’s momentum and finish the season on top of the standings.
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