The Swope Park Rangers defeated Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night at Papa Murphy’s Park to advance to the next round of the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. The back-to-back Western Conference Champions remain alive in the USL Cup Playoffs for the third straight year and will now face Phoenix Rising FC at 9:30 p.m. CT on Friday, October 26 in Phoenix for the Western Conference Semifinals.
Sacramento would score an early goal in the 16th minute when Villyan Bijev would send a right-footed shot into the bottom left of the goal, putting Sacramento ahead 1-0. Sporting KC loanee Eric Dick would make a diving save in the 19th minute to keep the Republic's lead from doubling.