![]() "I was like, 'I'm going to run to you guys when I score. "I talked to my brother my dad," he said. Jauregui celebrated the moment as he'd planned – with his family. Galaxy II – Sac Republic is playing a USL Championship schedule along with the U.S. Last month, Jauregui scored his first professional goal in a league game victory over L.A. In the beginning it was pretty hard but then I just started like coming out of my shell a bit more and it's been getting better." "So it took me a while to like start talking to people. Sacramento Republic FC midfielder Rafael Jauregui. "And it is really a sink or swim situation where you're surrounded by adults that are making a living out of this game and they're not going to go easy on you." "I think coming into a locker room at the age he did can be a really frightening thing for a lot of kids," LaGrassa said. Juaregui signed his first pro contract at 15, something exciting but potentially daunting. Jauregui, whose parents are Mexican immigrants, was 13 when he was first recruited by Sac Republic's academy – one of many youth development programs around the country, including MLS Next. LaGrassa turned pro after four years of college soccer. "Uncle Matt," Jauregui laughed in response. "He's my little brother," said Sac Republic starting midfielder Matt LaGrassa, 29, about his 17-year-old teammate Rafael 'Rafa' Jauregui. ![]() Like two close teammates who arrived from very different paths. Of course there are locals too, playing pro soccer in their hometown. Sac Republic has players from Spain and Scotland and the Congo. Sacramento Republic FC player Luther Archimède stretches after practice. And those teams have been filling their rosters with talented players every way and from every where. In the eight years since Sacramento joined USL Championship, the league has grown to nearly 30 teams. not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup - the game kept moving forward. While sports fans were focused on men soccer's epic fail at the highest level - the U.S. Sac Republic's breakout performances may be a sign of things to come but they're also a sign of what's already been happening. soccer and the landscape for the future of U.S. ![]() It's going to play a massive part in the landscape of U.S. In continuing to grow and continuing to push, like you see when USL teams, not only us, take on other MLS teams. "Obviously us representing the USL shows the quality of the league and the quality of players within the league," Briggs said, "but it's also going to play a pivotal role in the landscape of American soccer. "That's what gets us through these games."īriggs is a coach who likes to focus on the moments at hand – in the days leading up to Wednesday's match, he deflected much of the gushing talk about Sac Republic's magical ride through the tournament, with its three impressive wins over MLS teams.īut he's certainly aware his team is carrying a torch for soccer's lower divisions. ![]() "The guys are comfortable when they're uncomfortable," Briggs said. Sac Republic head coach Mark Briggs commended his entire team for its defensive effort, and praised his players for their quality performances in critical moments throughout the tournament. The celebration was loud and inclusive – players stayed on the field to share the moment with Sacramento fans. He drilled a shot into the back of the net as KC's goalkeeper dived in vain. And the team's diminutive hero, 5-foot, 7-inch captain Rodrigo "Ro-ro" Lopez, took advantage. Luck, or not, the save set up Sac Republic for a final kick to win the match. "Penalties are a lottery," Vitiello said after the match, "you've got to dive the right way." Sacramento Republic's Douglas Martinez Jr., left, and Sporting Kansas City's Rémi Walter battle for the ball during their U.S. Open Cup championship, it'll be the first lower division team in the final since 2008. When it plays MLS's Orlando City September 7 th for the U.S. And now it's one of the last two standing. In fact once this year's tournament was whittled down from a record 103 teams, pro and amateur, to the semifinalists, three of the four remaining were MLS teams. It's the longest-running soccer tournament in this country, over a hundred years old, and since Major League Soccer became America's top division in 1996, MLS teams have dominated the Open Cup. On Wednesday, Sacramento Republic FC, a second division team in the United Soccer League, or USL, beat Sporting Kansas City in the semifinals of the U.S. Sacramento at least for this week, can make a pretty good case for a name change. Sac Republic defeated MLS mainstay Sporting KC 5-4 in penalty kicks. Sacramento Republic FC Players celebrate their U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |