SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – A goal against the run of play in the first half and a pair of strikes after the interval led to a disappointing 3-0 loss for Sounders FC 2 (5-17-5, 20 points) on Wednesday night away to Sacramento Republic FC (14-7-7, 49 points). S2 fielded a lineup with five first-team players and several Sounders Academy graduates, but the young side was unable to find the back of the net despite carving out a handful of quality chances. The match featured S2 debuts for new signing Jalen Markey and 17-year-old Sounders Academy right back Enrique Montana.
With Sounders FC enjoying some time off during the international break, S2’s starting lineup included five First Team players as the Rave Green took the match to the Republic from the opening whistle. S2 nearly opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when Nouhou curled in a cross for Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, whose snap-header was corralled by goalkeeper Josh Cohen. The hosts then opened the scoring in the 20th minute against the run of play as Cameron Iwasa dispossessed Antonee Burke-Gilroy in S2’s defensive third and calmly finished past Calle Brown.
S2 utilized all three substitutions at the break, bringing on Azriel Gonzalez, Markey and Montana. After Seattle tested the Republic goalkeeper on a couple of occasions, Sacramento doubled their advantage in the 58th minute as Christian Eissele tapped home a cross from close range. S2 played the final 30 minutes down a man after center back Tony Alfaro conceded a penalty with a sliding challenge in the box, earning his second booking of the evening. Eissele stepped up and dispatched the spot kick, completing his brace.
S2 continued to push forward for the duration of the match, with Gonzalez earning a penalty for S2 in the 76th minute. David Estrada took the ensuing spot kick, but Cohen pulled off a full-extension save to preserve the clean sheet for Sacramento.
Sounders FC 2 returns to action on Saturday, September 15 with a home match against Phoenix Rising. The match will kick-off at 7:00 p.m. PT and will be live-streamed on ESPN+.
MATCH SUMMARY
Sounders FC 2 I 0-3 I Sacramento Republic FC
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Venue: Papa Murphy’s Park I Sacramento, California
Referee: Thomas Snyder
Assistants: Eduardo Jeff, Andrew Hanks
Fourth Official: Nicholas Marin
Weather: 75 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SAC – Cameron Iwasa (Vilyan Bijev) 20’
SAC – Christian Eissele (Vilyan Bijev) 58’
SAC – Christian Eissele (penalty) 64’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Tony Alfaro (caution) 23’
SEA – Tony Alfaro (caution, ejection) 63’
SAC – Emrah Klimenta (caution) 76’
SEA – David Olsen (caution) 90+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
S2 – Calle Brown; Jordan McCrary (Enrique Montana HT), Rodrigue Ele (Jalen Markey HT), Tony Alfaro, Nouhou; Antonee Burke-Gilroy, David Olsen; Marlon Vargas, Handwalla Bwana (Azriel Gonzalez HT), David Estrada; Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Sam Rogers
Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 4
SAC – Josh Cohen; Emrah Klimenta (Cole Seiller 82’), Mitch Taintor, Shannon Gomez; Elliot Hord, Adam Moffat (Christian Eissele 34’), Jeremy Hall, Hayden Partain; Wilson Kneeshaw (Kevin Aleman 78’), Cameron Iwasa, Vilyan Bijev
Substitutes not used: Thomas Olsen, Justin Schmidt, Luis Espino
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 11
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 4
