Yes, that would have been something had Phoenix lost. That would have left the title race wide open. Although, the east is pretty much playing out as seeded. Kiffe scored for El Paso last night, too.
We went. We fought. We conquered. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/O9CiIH0XAt— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 28, 2019
No. 7 seed Republic FC (14-14-6, 48 pts) heads into a Western Conference Semifinal clash this Saturday night at Southwest University Park against an El Paso Locomotive FC side that swept the regular-season series over Sacramento. However, no team has ever beaten the Indomitable Club three times during the same campaign. In 2017, Republic FC were in a similar postseason situation against a Real Monarchs team that had triumphed over SRFC twice during the regular season (both 2-0 results). When the two sides collided in the playoffs, Sacramento had the last laugh and advanced on penalty kicks. What about the other guys? No. 6 seed El Paso Locomotive FC (13-10-11, 50 pts) are fresh off their inaugural USL Championship campaign and solidified a postseason spot in their first-ever season, just like Republic FC did back in 2014. Saturday will be the first-ever home playoff game for the club from the Lone Star State. Over the weekend, Locomotive FC upset No. 3 seed Fresno FC, 3-2, after having to battle back from a goal down. Josue Gomez gifted El Paso a 1-0 lead before Fresno fired back with second-half strikes from Christian Chaney and Alex Cooper. Former Republic FC defender James Kiffe leveled the match in the 77th minute before Sebastian Velasquez’s conversion from the penalty spot sealed Locomotive FC’s place in the Semifinals. Three goals for El Paso against Fresno was pretty rare, given the Texan team scored three goals or more in a match just five times all season. On the year, Locomotive FC netted the fifth-fewest goals in the Western Conference this season with 45. Forward Jerome Kiesewetter led the team in goals this season with 12. Defensively, El Paso is one of the best in the west. Locomotive FC allowed the second-fewest goals in the conference with 38 and kept the second-most clean sheets in the West with 13. Head-to-Head The first meeting between the two clubs was a 3-1 win for El Paso in Texas back in mid-May. Calvin Rezende put the hosts in front in the 10th minute before Drew Skundrich leveled the match in the 35th. Kiesewetter’s second-half brace ultimately put the game out of reach. When the two teams met again in late-September, a driving rainstorm caused a lengthy weather delay. Thomas Enevoldsen put SRFC out in front before Bryam Rebellon equalized in the 48th minute. But a Josue Gomez strike deep into extra time lifted Locomotive FC to victory. Former Republic FC defender James Kiffe is the current left-back for El Paso Locomotive FC. Kiffe, who played with the Indomitable Club from 2014 to 2017, was a member of the Championship-winning side and is currently third all-time in club appearances (89) and starts (85). Overall: 0-2-0 (GF: 2; GA: 5) Home: 0-1-0 Away: 0-1-0 How to Watch & Follow Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on KQCA My58, Estrella TV Sacramento (Spanish) and ESPN+. Updates online will also be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or by following #ELPvSAC. To see more matchday information, visit SacRepublicFC.com/matchday-guide
Can someone please give me/us updates (nothing fancy: just scoring)? No access to the match this time around. Thank you!
Well, that season ended with a whimper. Despite a couple of players having a terrible game, they still managed to press EP for large stretches of the game. Might have still beaten a lesser opponent, but it's the playoffs - everyone needs to be on their "A" game, every game.
I guess we should have given up another lazy, early goal so that we could play the rest of the first half with determination and commitment, like the previous two games.