Match Report
The table read 11th (Sacramento Republic, 32 pts) against 7th (Orange County, 35 pts), 3 points apart. Orange County ranked just 19th in the league on five-round form despite their 7th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Sacramento Republic 1.33 scored and 0.9 conceded per game, Orange County 1.5 and 1.41, with the league averaging 1.36.
Sacramento Republic's last three games had all finished level.
The head-to-head ledger counts 8 games: 4 Sacramento Republic wins, 1 for Orange County, 3 draws, at 1.75 goals per meeting. Hosting has counted for little in this fixture — the home side has won only 38% of those meetings.
Papa Murphy’s Park staged the fixture, a ground that holds 11,500. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Orange County led 1-0 at the break, before 4 more goals closed it at 3-2.
Goal scorers
Sacramento Republic: Arturo Rodriguez (57'), Kyle Edwards (88'), M. Benítez (90') · Orange County: Stephen Kelly (22'), Yaniv Bazini (73')
Key stats
Possession: Sacramento Republic 60% · Orange County 40% · Total shots: 18-14 · On target: 6-5 · Corners: 14-5