Need to know

• Reno restarts the season 134 after the season opener against Tacoma Defiance, a 3-1 win.
• Reno enters the restart leading Group A with three points. Sacramento Republic FC sits  in second with 2 points.
• The Donner Pass Derby game will be broadcast on ESPN2 for a national audience

 

Preview

Sunday, July 19 – @ Sacramento Republic FC

6:00 p.m. PT kickoff @ Papa Murphy’s Park

Broadcast: ESPN2

Radio: ESPN Radio 94.5

 

            Reno 1868 FC restarts the 2020 campaign on Sunday after a 134 day suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Boys in Blue will be facing a familiar foe in Donner Pass Derby rival Sacramento Republic FC.

“Training has been really good the last two or three weeks. We’re fit,” said head coach Ian Russell. “It’s going to take a bit to get game fit but everyone else is in the same boat … I think everyone’s ready to go.”

Before the hiatus, Reno opened the season at Tacoma and came away with a 3-1 come-from-behind win. The three points give Reno a one point lead on Sacramento for first place in Group A, with the top two teams advancing to the playoffs at the end of the season.

Reno owns a 5-1-1 all-time regular season record against Sacramento, but fell to Republic in the second round of the USL Championship playoffs last season. Las season, Reno went 2-0-0 against Sacramento in the regular season, including a 4-1 win at Papa Murphy’s Park.

Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT, with the game being broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and locally on ESPN Radio 94.5.

 

Scouting report – Sacramento Republic FC

• Reno owns a 5-1-1 all-time regular season record against Sacramento, and went 2-0-0 last season before falling to Republic in the playoffs.
• Sacramento has already restarted their season, drawing 3-3 with Tacoma on Monday.
• Sacramento’s 0-0-2 record has the club in second in the Group A standings, just one point behind 1868.

 

Inside 1868 FC

• Christiano François scored and assisted in week one against Tacoma Defiance, earning USL Team of the Weeks honors.
• Reno returns eight members of last year’s incredibly successful squad, including leading goalscorer Corey Hertzog, captain Brent Richards and former San Jose Earthquake Kevin Partida.
• Last season, Reno’s 51st USL regular-season win tied a league record for the most wins through any club’s first three seasons. The record was tied with FC Cincinnati, who moved to MLS after year three.
• Reno’s eight returners scored 33 goals last season, accounting for 46% of Reno’s 71 goals in 2019.