SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC moved within a point of clinching a place in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs as it ended Phoenix Rising FC’s 11-game undefeated streak with a 2-0 win in front of a sellout crowd of 11,569 at Papa Murphy’s Park on Saturday night. Sacramento got the opening goal in the 49th minute as Emrah Klimenta hit a perfect free kick just beyond Rising FC goalkeeper Josh Cohen and into the back of the net. It then quickly become 2-0 as Republic FC's Agustin Cazarez hit a shot from 25 yards powerfully along the ground, just out of Cohen’s reach just five minutes after the opener. Sacramento controlled possession from the opening whistle, a trend which continued throughout the match, apart from a brief passage in the first half when Phoenix had the bulk of its chances. Cohen continued his incredible form in the Phoenix net as he made a dive at full stretch after seeing the ball late off a header by Chris Christian from a Republic FC free kick, and also stopped a curling effort to keep the match scoreless at halftime. In the 76th minute Sacramento goalkeeper Evan Newton had to be at his best to keep his side two goals to the good as he made a stunning double-save from close range, which ended up proving vital in a big victory in Republic FC's regular-season home finale.

Scoring:

49’ – SAC – Emrah Klimenta

54’ – SAC – Agustin Cazarez (Villyan Bijev)

Three Things That Matter:

1. After a phenomenal goalkeeping run from Josh Cohen, who had recorded six clean sheets in the month of September, his shutout streak finally came to an end at the hands of Emrah Klimenta. The Republic FC captain's goal early in the second half ended a run of 416 minutes of soccer without conceding a goal by the Rising FC goalkeeper.

2. Republic FC dominated possession throughout the match, managing to hold more than 60 percent of the ball, which made life difficult for Phoenix. Sacramento did what many teams fail to do with so much possession and converted it into shots, managing eight, with three on target that proved the difference in the game.

3. With the loss, Rising FC's impressive run which has seen the club shoot up the USL Western Conference and become a real contender for the USL Cup came to an end. Phoenix's 11-game undefeated streak might be over, though, but as the side concluded a long road trip it will have to get back on the horse quickly as it takes on Tulsa Roughnecks FC at the Phoenix Rising FC on Wednesday night in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Agustin Cazarez, Sacramento Republic FC – Scoring the second goal capped an impressive night for Cazarez, who was clinical in his passing as he managed a 92.6 percent passing accuracy rate on his 50 passes, created one scoring chance in addition to his goal and also contributed in the back with three interceptions.