Sacramento, California Local News
Sacramento Republic FC adds veteran midfielder Justin Portillo to squad
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Sacramento Republic FC has added an experienced attacking midfielder to its squad to help fill a void left by the season-ending injury of its longtime captain and playmaker Rodrigo López.The Republic said the club reached an agreement with FC Tulsa to transfer Justin Portillo to Sacramento. He’s expected to be available to play as soon as Saturday when the team takes on Monterey Bay FC on the road. Portillo is among the USL Championship’s all-time top 15 players for his 244-all time appearances, 20,139 minutes played and 38 assists during his career, Republic FC said. He’s also scored 37 goals in the league and has experience winning the USL Championship title in 2019 for the Real Monarchs in Salt Lake City. Portillo’s 11 years as a pro have also included three spent playing for the Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake.Portillo, who is from New Orleans, joined FC Tulsa for the 2024 season. His experience also includes having played under Republic FC’s current head coach back when Mark Briggs was with the Real Monarchs. “Justin is a proven winner who brings a championship pedigree and over a decade of experience to our club,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant in a statement. “He dictates play and loves getting on the ball, and those qualities, combined with his leadership abilities, will be a welcome addition to our group.” That experience could be welcome for a team that has been dealing with the fallout since midfielder López tore his ACL during a May 21 U.S. Open Cup match. López had been off to a strong start to the season after returning from a previous injury, netting two goals and one assist across nine league appearances.Forward Russell Cicerone, the team’s top goal scorer last year, has also been sidelined since an injury on May 11 that required surgery. In the past two weeks, Republic recorded a scoreless draw against Birmingham Legion FC and then lost their first match of the season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0.Republic FC is now No. 2 in the Western Conference.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
Sacramento Republic FC has added an experienced attacking midfielder to its squad to help fill a void left by the season-ending injury of its longtime captain and playmaker Rodrigo López.
The Republic said the club reached an agreement with FC Tulsa to transfer Justin Portillo to Sacramento. He’s expected to be available to play as soon as Saturday when the team takes on Monterey Bay FC on the road.
Portillo is among the USL Championship’s all-time top 15 players for his 244-all time appearances, 20,139 minutes played and 38 assists during his career, Republic FC said. He’s also scored 37 goals in the league and has experience winning the USL Championship title in 2019 for the Real Monarchs in Salt Lake City.
Portillo’s 11 years as a pro have also included three spent playing for the Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake.
Portillo, who is from New Orleans, joined FC Tulsa for the 2024 season.
His experience also includes having played under Republic FC’s current head coach back when Mark Briggs was with the Real Monarchs.
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“Justin is a proven winner who brings a championship pedigree and over a decade of experience to our club,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant in a statement. “He dictates play and loves getting on the ball, and those qualities, combined with his leadership abilities, will be a welcome addition to our group.”
That experience could be welcome for a team that has been dealing with the fallout since midfielder López tore his ACL during a May 21 U.S. Open Cup match.
López had been off to a strong start to the season after returning from a previous injury, netting two goals and one assist across nine league appearances.
Forward Russell Cicerone, the team’s top goal scorer last year, has also been sidelined since an injury on May 11 that required surgery.
In the past two weeks, Republic recorded a scoreless draw against Birmingham Legion FC and then lost their first match of the season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0.
Republic FC is now No. 2 in the Western Conference.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
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