Separated by a single point in the Western Conference standings, the Swope Park Rangers (9-4-4, 4th place) and Sacramento Republic FC (8-5-6, 5th place) will meet at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park in a fixture originally scheduled for July 27. Tickets for the mid-week match-up are available to purchase online at SeatGeek.com, including a $25 packagethat includes a match ticket and SPR summer soccer scarf.
The Rangers and Republic FC will square off for the first time since last year’s USL Cup Playoffs showdown in the Western Conference Semifinals, when SPR prevailed 1-0 at Children’s Mercy Park on Kharlton Belmar’s game-winning goal. Belmar has continued his strong form in 2018 and leads the USL with nine goals in nine appearances.
Sacramento, with four straight playoff berths, and SPR, with back-to-back USL Cup appearances, are each in position to continue their postseason appearances after the first 17 weeks of the 34-game USL regular season.
The Rangers are coming off a 2-0 road win at Seattle Sounders FC 2 last Thursday in which the SPR defense held S2 without a shot on goal despite playing a man down for 70 minutes. Sporting KC Academy product Felipe Hernandez, 20, scored the game-winning goal on a well-taken half volley from 30 yards out and Hadji Barry converted a second-half penalty for his sixth goal of the season in the victory.
Sacramento held league leaders Real Monarchs to a scoreless draw on Saturday as Josh Cohen, who ranks second in the USL with 60 saves, earned his sixth clean sheet of the campaign. Montenegro international Emrah Klimenta, the club’s all-time leader with 120 games played, made his return for the Republic FC in the match after re-signing last week following three appearances with the LA Galaxy earlier this year.
Led by head coach Simon Elliott and club captain Jeremy Hall, Sacramento upset four-time U.S. Open Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC in the tournament’s fourth round on June 6. However, the 2014 USL champions have scored just four goals in their last eight USL matches, including one goal in their last four USL road matches, and enter Tuesday winless in five straight games across all competitions.
Cameron Iwasa, who made 22 appearances for the Rangers last season on loan from Sporting KC, has returned to Sacramento Republic FC, where he began his professional career in 2015. He leads his hometown team with eight goals in all competitions this year and leads all USL players with 46 shots.
The Rangers are 2-0-2 all-time against Sacramento ahead of the first of two meetings this season. SPR also boasts a 15-game home unbeaten streak with 11 home games remaining in the final 14 weeks of the 2018 USL regular season.
Tuesday’s match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and in-game updates will also be available via the USLsoccer.com Match Center.
Game 18 of 34
Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kan.)
Swope Park Rangers: 9-4-4 (31 points, 4th place in Western Conference)
MLS Affiliate: Sporting Kansas City
Sacramento Republic FC: 8-5-6 (30 points, 5th place in Western Conference)
MLS Affiliate: N/A
Game Notes: Click here
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: ESPN+
Talent:Carter Augustine (play-by-play) and Sam Kovzan (analyst)
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #SPRvSAC
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Sacramento Republic FC
Twitter: @SacRepublicFC
Instagram: @SacRepublicFC
