The Tacoma Defiance face off against a struggling Sacramento Republic FC in Northern California. Republic FC have lost two in a row, slipping perilously to 10th place, which is the last playoff spot in the USL Championship Western Conference. With everything on a knife’s edge in the Western Conference, a win could take Republic as high as 5th place and a loss all the way to 15th.
They will look to get that win on the backs of Cameron Iwasa—their leading scorer with 12 goals—and Thomas Enevoldsen, a 32-year-old Dane who is Republic’s creative force. Sacramento’s real strength is their defense led by centerback Mitchell Taintor and their defensive-minded former Seattle Sounders’ right back Jordan McCrary.