It was a weekend for statement wins in the USL, and there was only one draw across 12 matches as teams went for the kill. Meanwhile, the first trade of the year already began to show its consequences, and the pipeline between young USL talent and European opportunities continued to grow.
What went down on and off the pitch in Week 10, and what does it mean going forward? Let’s dig in.
1. Sacramento (No change)
Result: W 3-1 v. Indy
The Republic couldn't repeat 2022's magical run to the U.S. Open Cup final after falling to the Colorado Rapids this week, but they bounced back well in USL play. Russell Cicerone opened the scoring after only two minutes against Indy on his way to a hat trick, setting the tone for Sacramento’s night.
Both Cicerone and purer striker Sebastian Herrera started at the front of an attacking 3-4-3, and the offense still retained all the flow you’d come to expect before the Rodrigo Lopez injury. In the final third, Keko - the third member of the triumvirate - tended to drop deeper and wider as the other two sliced through the Eleven’s box, and the flurry of motion constantly bore fruit.
Between the smooth offense and responsible tracking and rotation in their own half, Sacramento made it look easy on short rest. Still first in the West, there’s no argument against their status as the best team in the USL.
