Rise of the Republic: A Sacramento Republic FC Podcast

Blake and Rich say goodbye to Sacramento Republic legend Rodrigo Lopez, hand out awards for the season, and recap the first ever edition of the Rise Republic Derby.

Phoenix Rising  eliminated Sacramento Republic on Saturday with a clear handball. It was a crazy end to a crazy season, but are the refs to blame? We aren't so sure.

It's the crossover episode you've always wanted, even if you didn't know it! Scott and Zac join Richard to wrap up the end of the regular season and preview the Phoenix Rising FC playoff matchup.

SB Nation's Alicia Rodriguez joins the pod to help us put Republic FC into perspective with the other California soccer clubs. We look ahead to potential playoff matches with Phoenix Rising, LA Galaxy II, Orange County, and San Diego.

Wowzers. This one had a heartbreaking ending and a terrible beginning, but an incredibly encouraging middle. This was the best offensive game of the season. Republic FC shredded Reno's defense for much of the game.

An incredible shorthanded comeback amounts to one of the best performances of the year for Republic FC. Yet Rich still finds things to nitpick. Blake thinks the redcard on Roro was bull. Orange County was one of the tougher games of the year, but the Quails came through.

It was a Wednesday matinee game in Portland, and kids under 18 got in free! At least that was the T2 goalkeeper's policy, as he played victim to the first ever goals for both Mario Penagos and Juju Chavez in the final minutes of the game. The Sacramento Republic FC Academy looks strong. The first team... not so much.

Richard is joined by soccer scribe Evan Ream to talk all things Republic. Evan has covered the team from day one, literally. He shares thoughts on the move to the MLS, what it takes to be a soccer city, and why the USA always seems to fall short.

It's a comeback, baby! The Republic have been a first half team all season, but that was not the case Saturday night. They went into the locker room down 1-0 but stormed back in the second half. Skundrich equalized and Iwasa got the winner.

We are joined by Cameron Salerno, Republic beat writer for the Sacramento Bee. Will we see a solidified XI soon? Why didn't Iwasa start earlier in the year? How serious are the injury issues around the team? Cam answers these questions and more.