SACRAMENTO — When Sacramento Republic FC ended its 2016 season, it came in the fashion that fans had come to expect: first half scoring struggles followed by overall poor finishing.

It’s early in 2017, but the Republic appears to have solved both problems, especially if its rematch against the team that knocked it out of the playoffs, Orange County SC, is any indication of the future.

Last year, it was a scoreless draw followed by a penalty shootout loss that doomed the Republic.

This year, it was the thunder and lightning partnership between Sammy Ochoa and Wilson Kneeshaw — the soccer version of LenDale White and Reggie Bush’s USC days — that propelled the Republic (2-0) to a 4-0 on opening night at Papa Murphy’s Park.

The pair, using Ochoa’s incredible strength in hold-up play and Kneeshaw’s lightning-fast speed, dominated the overmatched Orange County (1-1-0) defenders all night.

It took just 23 minutes for Ochoa to continue his fine form, grabbing his second goal of the season after an opportunistic run from the diminutive English forward Kneeshaw.

“He’s a great player, Sammy,” head coach Paul Buckle said. “The one thing he does is he affects the game. He scores goals and he creates goals as you saw tonight. He can finish.”

Captain Danny Barrera lofted a perfectly weighted through ball over the top of the Orange County defense that Kneeshaw ran onto before shooting twice, only to see both attempted shots smothered by OC goalkeeper Charlie Lyon.

The third time proved the charm though, and Ochoa smashed in the second rebound for a 1-0 first half lead — the early goal that the Republic struggled to garner in all of 2016.

As the match continued and the Republic pressed for a second goal, it was net minder Evan Newton who became the star for the home side, pulling off a highlight reel-quality save to hold onto the clean sheet.

It was a mis-hit cross that nearly did the damage, appearing headed for the upper corner of the goal, but a full-stretch Newton palmed away the attempt to hold onto the clean sheet.

And then the powerful Ochoa proved his star again in the 59th minute, again with the help of the speedy Kneeshaw.

Kneeshaw’s original shot, a blast from six yards out, rattled the post, but fortunately rebounded right to him, where he was able to get something on the ball and direct it towards the Orange County goal.

For the second time of the night, Ochoa was in the right place at the right time, stabbing home the ball from six inches out before sliding into the corner in exuberance while bringing the sellout crowd of 11,569 to their feet.

“I was just following the play, being at the right time at the right place,” Ochoa said. “That’s goals by Wilson just tapped in by me. I’m just there to pick up the trash.”

Unlucky twice before, Kneeshaw finally got one of his own in the 68th minute, effectively ending the match.

New signing Tyler Blackwood roared down the right side of the field and at the end line lofted in a cross back towards the penalty area, where Kneeshaw side volleyed home for his first of the season and a 3-0 lead.

“He was a handful, so to speak, in terms of never giving their back four a minute’s peace,” Buckle said of Kneeshaw. “He’s dangerous in front of goal and I thought he took his goal very well.”

A lead that the Republic held until stoppage time, where substitute Harry Williams rounded Lyon and placed the ball in the back of the net for the final tally of the 4-0 victory.

Sacramento returns to play next week when they travel to Oklahoma to take on the Tulsa Roughnecks Saturday before playing at Oklahoma City Energy three days later.

— Reach Evan Ream at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanReam