Republic FC Clinch Playoff Berth with Late Winner Against Orange County
Sacramento Republic FC proved once again that depth and determination define their 2025 campaign. On a lively Wednesday night at Heart Health Park, a heavily rotated lineup delivered a 2-1 victory over Orange County SC, officially booking the Quails’ spot in the postseason for the 11th time in 12 years.
Head Coach Neill Collins made wholesale changes to preserve legs for Saturday’s Jägermeister Cup Final, but his trust in the squad was repaid. From the opening whistle, Sacramento played with purpose. In just the 7th minute, Blake Willey’s shot forced a difficult save from Colin Shutler, and when the rebound spilled loose, Dominik Wanner pounced with composure to put Republic FC ahead. Wanner wasn’t finished—he remained a live wire throughout the first half, recording three shots on target and nearly doubling the lead before halftime.
Orange County, largely stifled in the opening 45 minutes, found a way back when awarded a penalty early in the second half. Ethan Zubak converted from the spot in the 52nd minute, one of only two shots on target the visitors managed all evening. Though OC edged possession 56–44%, Sacramento carried the greater threat throughout, generating 2.79 expected goals compared to Orange County’s 1.56 and creating 30 touches in the opposition’s box .
With the match in the balance, Sacramento’s bench made the difference. Cristian Parano’s introduction sparked urgency, while Jack Gurr’s darting runs began to open up space down the flank. In the 87th minute, Gurr beat his defender to the endline and whipped a ball across the face of goal. Waiting in the right place at the right time, Khori Bennett hammered home the winner to ignite Heart Health Park.
“As a striker, I’m always goal hungry,” Bennett said after the match. “I knew that once I put myself in the right position, the guys would get the ball to me and I’d just have to finish.”
It was a victory forged not by stars but by squad players seizing their chance. Midfielders Justin Portillo and Aaron Edwards each completed over 30 passes in the final third, helping maintain tempo, while young defender Chibuike Ukaegbu chipped in with multiple recoveries and tackles to blunt OC’s counterattacks.
Collins was quick to highlight the importance of his entire squad:
“Tonight, regardless of the result, they performed the way that we wanted them to perform. They kept the standards so high, and they got the rewards,” he said. “I could name quite a few, but it was a real team performance.”
The win underlined Sacramento’s consistency— now 12 victories on the year—and their ability to respond after setbacks, bouncing back strongly from last weekend’s disappointment to Monterey Bay. Beyond the three points, the result secures another post-season run while keeping the Quails just three points off the top of the Western Conference.
Now, attention turns to Saturday, where Heart Health Park will host the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup Final against Hartford Athletic. If Wednesday night was a preview of the atmosphere, the stadium should be electric for what could be one of the most significant nights in Club history.
Crowd was good Wednesday, should be great Saturday!