Sounders FC 2 draw Sacramento Republic after see-saw final 15 minutes

TUKWILA, Wash. -- Brian Nana-Sinkam and David Olsen scored second-half goals but Seattle Sounders 2 conceded a late equalizer at the death, forcing the team to settle for a wild 2-2 draw in its Sunday afternoon home matchup with Sacramento Republic FC at Starfire Sports Complex.

Sacramento’s Trevin Caesar put S2 in a 1-0 deficit with a goal just after second-half kickoff, but Nana-Sinkham came through a 77^th-minute leveler, the second goal of the season for the 22-year-old Stanford product. Olsen then bagged an 85^th-minute tally of his own to give S2 a late lead, but Sacramento’s Tyler Blackwood scored a dramatic late tally to salvage the draw for the visitors.

Sacramento had a pair of opportunities to take the lead in the first half, the first coming from a 13^th-minute shot from inside the area off the foot of Caesar that forced S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller into a sprawling save to deny the effort.

Elliott Hord had another good look at the opener in the 26^th minute after making a running onto the end of a cross at the far post of the S2 goal and tapping an attempt on frame. But Miller was up to the task once again, corralling the shot to keep the game scoreless.

Sacramento had another good opportunity in the 50^th minute after Blackwood intercepted a wayward backpass and found himself in a one-on-one with Miller. But the S2 backstop made another monster save, stretching out to deny Blackwood’s shot and keep the visitors off the scoreboard once again.

Caesar would find the opening tally in the 59^th minute, flicking a perfectly weighted shot up and over Miller and into the net, affording Sacramento the 1-0 advantage that they would hold late into the second half.

Zach Mathers nearly equalized for S2 in the 64^th minute after he managed to tee up a rocket shot off a pinpoint cross from left back Nouhou. But Sacramento goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek managed to deflect away Mathers’ shot with a reaction save and preserve the one-goal lead.

Nana-Sinkam started the late fireworks in the 78^th minute after Mathers fired a free kick into the Sacramento box that he headed into the net. Olsen then finished off a cross from new signing Charles Renken that would looked to be the dagger, but Blackwood spoiled the party with his goal on the last kick of the game to seal the draw.

The result moved S2 to 5-5-2 on the season before they return to action on June 3, when they’ll host LA Galaxy II in another home matchup at Starfire.