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Sandy • Justin Braun can't shake the shades of his club's crest. Not that he wants to. Wherever the 27-year-old Skyline High product goes in his new home of Sacramento, he sees the maroon, the dark red and the brown of his team, Sacramento Republic FC. The California capital has embraced its first-year USL Pro franchise beyond all expectations.
Fresh off an dream inaugural season, Sacramento rolls into Rio Tinto Stadium Tuesday to face Real Salt Lake in a friendly.
Republic, which went 17-7-4 in 28 league games, carved out a spot as the league's top club in 2014, playing its first-ever game in late April and sealing the USL Pro title Saturday in a 2-0 win over the Harrisburg City Islanders. The club regularly set league records for attendance, eclipsing over 158,000 fans in 2014, at Bonney Field and Hughes Stadium.
In the middle of it all is Braun, who for six years plied his trade in Major League Soccer playing for Chivas USA, Montreal Impact, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC. Released by Toronto after the 2013 campaign, the Salt Lake City native searched for a way to revitalize his career.
"When I first made the decision to come [to Sacramento], it was very questionable if I had made the right decision," Braun said.
Turns out, he did. Braun captained Republic to a title in his first season with the club, helping a franchise turn a successful minor-league season into a full-blown bid for Major League Soccer expansion. "Built for MLS" has become the club's motto. MLS executives toured the city with club officials two weeks ago and Republic announced a potential downtown stadium site.
"I feel that this club and the city is good — if not better — than a lot of MLS clubs I've been a part of," Braun said.
Republic will have a chance to show it an MLS Cup contender at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL coach Jeff Cassar played with Republic coach Preki — who also has managed Chivas USA and Toronto FC — and said he knows what to expect: Organization, bite and quality.
This will be RSL's final non-league match of the season after drawing 1-1 with Mexico's Club Tijuana 1-1 on Aug. 12. Second-year midfielder John Stertzer suffered a season-ending leg injury that night.
"This game is important for a lot of people," Cassar said. "Obviously, we've got to find out who's going to step up in our rotations, who's going to make 18s' [game-day rosters] and right now, this is a playoff game for those guys."
Whether Republic is on the fast-track to MLS or not, RSL is getting an early look at a future opponent. The club's incoming USL Pro team, Real Monarchs, begin play in 2015, and will likely develop a rivalry with its future fellow Western Conference club.
"The club's been doing everything right since Day 1," Braun said. "When I first came here, I never could have imagined how big [the club] would be in this city. It's been really cool to be a part of it."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Sacramento Republic at RSL
P Exhibition at Rio Tinto Stadium
Kickoff • Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Radio • ESPN700 AM
Records • RSL 13-7-10 in MLS; Sacramento 17-7-4 in USL Pro
Last meeting • First meeting
About RSL • Coming off 2-1 loss at Vancouver Saturday afternoon at BC Place. … RSL remains a win or a draw away from clinching its seventh consecutive MLS playoff berth. … Coach Jeff Cassar said Chris Schuler (adductor) and Olmes Garcia (hamstring) are back to 100 percent. … Defender Tony Beltran (back) is progressing, but remains questionable for Sunday's match at Chivas USA. … Cassar said the club's Oct. 6 reserve match at Chivas USA has been cancelled.
About Sacramento • In its first season in USL Pro, Republic won the league title, sealing it 2-0 over Harrisburg City Saturday night at Hughes Stadium. … Former Chivas USA and Toronto FC coach Preki is the club's coach. … Former RSL forward and Skyline High product Justin Braun is the club's captain and scored six goals in 20