A very hot day in Sacramento gave way to a beautiful summer evening Saturday night, as Sacramento Republic FC hosted expansion club Sporting Club Jacksonville in the first match ever between the two sides in a USL interconference clash.
Behind four first half goals, including a brace from forward Tyler Wolff and three first half assists from midfielder Memo Rodriguez, Republic FC rolled to their second-consecutive league win (unbeaten streak now at four) and secured an important three points in a congested Western Conference Table.
“Games like this can be tough because we as coaches scout and we know how difficult Jacksonville have made it in so many games,” said Republic FC Manager Neill Collins. “You just don’t want the players to be complacent, and to go and play with the same focus that they’ve done, and they couldn’t have done that any better. I think they’ve carried on what’s been a really good run of performances recently.”
Republic FC struck first in the 7th minute when midfielder Pep Casas crossed the ball from the right side, which Wolff cleverly flicked back in to give the home side an early 1-0 advantage. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the fastest goal of the 2026 season for the Republic. The Real Salt Lake loanee scored in 5th minute of a 4-0 USL Cup win against Spokane Velocity FC on April 25.
Thirty minutes later, the route was on. In the 38th minute, Jared Timmer headed in a corner from Rodriguez, three minutes later (41’), Wolff secured his second goal on a through ball played from Rodriguez that put him in a 1v1 with the keeper, and right before the half, Rodriguez’s corner found the head of Lee Desmond to make it 4-0 (43’). It was quite the way for Desmond to celebrate his 400th career appearance.
The three assists from Rodriguez were a career-best for the former Houston Dynamo standout and the most from a Republic player since 2014.
In the 69th minute, Wolff secured his hat trick off a rebounded shot just outside the six-yard box. The deflected ball off Wolff’s foot just cleared the outstretched arms of Sporting Club Jacksonville goalkeeper Jake McGuire to make it 5-0. It was the second hat trick of Wolff’s career.
“It feels really good" [on getting the hat trick],” said Wolff. “I got the first two, and I knew I wanted a third. And you know, thanks to the guys for setting me up. I was just in the right in, trying to finish it off.”
With the win, Republic FC move to 7-4-5 (26 points) and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. They hit the road again this week in what will be an important two game road trip starting this coming Wednesday at Tulsa FC, and then again next Saturday at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Can the boys in Old Glory Red keep it rolling? We’ll soon find out.
William Hodges is a contributor with U.S. Soccer, TheCup.Us and was formerly editor of Indomitable City Soccer. You can follow him on X @william_hodges.