GAME DAY: SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC AT NM UNITED
Saturday, 7 p.m., 101.7 FM, Estrella TV, ESPN+ (streaming)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sacramento (9-2-8): Republic FC comes to Albuquerque leading the USL Championship’s Western Conference race and ranking among the league leaders in numerous categories, including goals scored (31). Forward Russell Cicerone is the go-to finisher for Sacramento, sharing the USLC individual lead with 10 goals. He scored late in last week’s 1-1 draw versus Memphis and has three assists, 23 chances created and a team-high 39 shots. Defender Jack Gurr also has been a difference-maker on the attacking end with four goals, three assists and 25 shots. Gurr also ranks second in the league with 118 crosses. Effective as Republic FC has been on offense, it hangs its collective hat on a stingy defense that has conceded a league-low 12 goals. Danny Vitiello has played all but one USLC match at goalkeeper. New Mexico (7-7-4): United continues to change things up under new coach Eric Quill, having added forwards Jacobo Reyes and Isaac Zuleta during a two-week break between USL Championship games. Zuleta scored on a late penalty kick in Wednesday’s 3-2 home loss to Sunderland AFC in an international friendly. Quill also added midfielder Nicky Hernandez, who has since become a regular starter. Change has thus far been a positive as NMU enters Saturday’s match on a four-match unbeaten streak in USLC play. But it’s not all about new players. Midfielders Amando Moreno and Justin Portillo, in particular, have stepped up their production since Quill’s arrival. Moreno has scored three of his club-leading five goals over his last five matches, while Portillo now ranks among the league leaders in crosses (79) and chances created (22). NOTEWORTHY: Another impressive milestone could be in the cards for NMU’s Josh Suggs, who needs just 8 minutes to reach 20,000 for his career. Suggs, who made his 250th appearance against Detroit City on July 8, would be just the second USLC player to reach 20,000 minutes. He needs 86 minutes to surpass since-retired Taylor Mueller’s career record of 20,077 . ... Midfielder Sergio Rivas needs two appearances to reach 100 for his career.