Zeiko Lewis and his Sacramento Republic FC teammates defeated NPSL side Crossfire in the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, securing a spot in the third round for the eighth consecutive tournament.
A back-and-forth match required extra time to decide who would move on to the Third Round, with Johnny Fenwick netting the winner late. Five combined goals were scored in additional time with both clubs gunning for the next round. A valiant effort by the visiting side kept Sacramento on their heels all evening as the club avoided an early cupset exit.
The visitors got off to a fast start, netting the opening score to Sacramento’s surprise just 7 minutes in. A defensive lapse allowed Crossfire to net another five minutes later, putting the Quails at a two-goal disadvantage before the 15-minute mark.
For the first time all season, the starting XI would include new names and faces – from players on debut to those logging their first minutes of the season. The match saw two Republic FC Academy products tally their first team debuts. Defender Ermias Yohannes featured in the starting eleven, while forward Ethan Kelly entered as an extra-time substitute for Lewis. Each joined the club’s roster earlier this week on Academy Contracts.
Changes at the break had Sacramento on the front foot early in the second half, as Russell Cicerone, Jack Gurr and Jared Timmer entered for their 2023 tournament debuts. The club nearly got one back just after the hour mark, but a save by the opposing keeper denied Lewis from just inside the penalty area.
Sacramento cut their deficit in half with ten minutes to go in regulation. After fielding a cross from Jack Gurr, Aldair Sanchez found Lewis inside the six-yard box who put it in the back of the net. The play earned Sanchez his first pro assist. Sanchez assisted Russell Cicerone as the club evened the scoreline five minutes later, earning him a two-assist performance in his first start.
Three scores from Sacramento, and five between both clubs kept the action tight after 90 minutes passed. Crossfire pulled ahead in the 92nd minute, but Sacramento got one back as Jack Gurr assisted Russell Cicerone to even the match at three. Sacramento pulled ahead again when Lewis bagged his second of the match – marking his third career brace. But Republic FC would have to net one more after another equalizer from Crossfire, with Fenwick’s winner finding the net in the 111th minute.
