Sacramento roars to support Republic in historic win over MLS’ San Jose Earthquakes

Sacramento fans know how to make noise.

In the 79th minute of Wednesday’s game with San Jose, Sacramento Republic lined up for a corner kick. The fans knew their cue. They stomped the metal bleachers at Heart Health Park, making the stadium shake and creating a metallic cacophony.

After a few seconds of ear-rattling sound, the fans erupted in cheers after Sacramento’s Rodrigo Lopez scored with a long rocket blast.

The party never really stopped Wednesday night as the Quails took a 2-0 win over San Jose, an MLS team. The victory moved Sacramento to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. The Republic will play the Galaxy, another MLS team, in Los Angeles in the next round on June 21 or 22.

If the crowd showed anything, it’s a simple takeaway: Sacramentans are eager to cheer for Sacramento. This is about more than fan allegiances. It’s about a sense of place.

Sacramento is the largest metro area in the country that’s only ever had one major pro franchise. Cleveland, which is about 20% smaller than Sacramento, has franchises in MLB, the NFL and the NBA.

Sacramento has the Kings. Full stop. But that’s not the end of the fandom. San Francisco Giants fans are easy to spot all over town. The 49ers, who play their home games fairly close to the San Jose Earthquakes, might be the most popular team in the Sacramento area.

While Sacramentans’ favorite teams are in the Bay Area, Sacramento is not in the Bay Area. That question has been repeatedly settled in online debates. People here have heard the jokes or thinly veiled criticism: Why would anybody live in Sacramento?

Sports can be an answer to all that. We have things to do here. Our team is better than yours. Sacramentans have the Kings and long drives to the Bay Area or TV games for most of their favorite teams.

The fans at Heart Health Park on Wednesday showed a fervor for something local. The largest end of the stadium, with nearly 40 rows of bleacher seats that tower over the north goal, was nearly full with fans. That doesn’t happen often in Sacramento, regardless of sport or circumstances.

The showing made an impression on coach Mark Briggs, who exhorted fans to show up and support his team against San Jose.

“I think you see at the end when it’s getting close to the final whistle and you hear how loud this stadium was, you hear the Tower Bridge Battalion and you hear everybody’s screaming and stomping their feet,” Briggs said. “I’m sure tonight’s result and atmosphere makes an impression on people around soccer in the US.”

Every time they got a chance, the crowd made their presence felt. It started relatively early, in the 28th minute, when Sacramento Republic lined up for a corner kick. As Lopez lined up his shot, the air vibrated with metallic clanging and yelling. When Luis Felipe scored, making a good run into the penalty box and hammering down a header, the fans leaped to their feet. The players responded by waving their arms back at fans. More of this, please.

Of course, as important as this game was for Sacramento, San Jose’s motivations are questionable. The Earthquakes’ top five goal-scorers were either unavailable or only appeared as substitutes late in the game.

San Jose has to play three games in seven days, with another match coming up Saturday, and the U.S. Open Cup is often considered something of a nuisance to MLS teams until the late rounds. It made sense to San Jose leadership to bench many of the top players to keep legs fresh.

The Republic, conversely, went all-out. Sacramento used its best players as long as possible. Lopez, the team’s 34-year-old captain, said he was out of gas after the game. Goaltender Danny Vitiello was worn out. Players slowly walked off the field, often with family and friends around them. every player was asked about the crowd.

They wanted to soak up the atmosphere. Every player and the coach in postgame interviews were asked about the crowd. It was as much the story as the game itself. Something big happened in Sacramento, and it was impressive.

“Amazing,” Vitiello said. “I think that’s the best it’s been and it’s been pretty, pretty good so far. I mean, I think we filled it up tonight and I can’t even hear myself think half the time when I’m in there. … I love it and love hearing them love when they come out. They were great tonight.”