One Cinderella story ended on Saturday night at Bonney Field, but a new fairytale was written. Sacramento Republic Football Club entered this season as an expansion side, and nothing approaching this was expected. With MLS and US Soccer legend Preki at the helm, a solid season did not seem out of reach, but what they did this year was truly unprecedented.

The Republic set a USL PRO attendance record this season, selling out match after match after match and eventually drawing over 150,000 fans to Bonney Field. There is now talk of expanding the stadium to accommodate as many as 12,000 fans per game next season, and you would not put it past them given that Saturday's match sold out in 15 minutes.

The match and the atmosphere tonight will only fuel speculation of an MLS side in Sacramento. Sacramento is now proving itself a true soccer city in the United States, and if the Republic are not going to be promoted to MLS they will likely be leading the calls for relegation and promotion to be instituted.

It is a truly disappointing night for Harrisburg City Islanders. The eight seed in the USL PRO Playoffs, they knocked off regular season champions and 2015 MLS side Orlando City Soccer Club in the first round. They proceeded to win on the road again, this time at the Richmond Kickers in the semifinal stage. They looked for stretches tonight like a side that could have won the silverware, but eventually were too open at the back and it proved their undoing. 

The opening 15 minutes of the game were thrilling. The more than 8,000 assembled were making themselves heard, and Sacramento fed off the energy. They sent forward wave after wave of attack, and all but one were easily repelled by Sacramento. 

The visiting side knew they were the underdogs, and set up that way. They appeared surprisingly content to be without possession, and the Republic were more than pleased. They had a large majority of the possession, and threw numbers forward while Harrisburg sat back and looked to counter. The first clear cut chance of the match fell to Republic captain Justin Braun, and the MLS veteran nearly opened the scoring. Braun was slipped in behind wonderfully, but his measured finish caromed back off the post. 

Harrisburg grew into the match as it wore on, and from about the 20th to 30th minutes had a period of sustained dominance. Jamaican midfielder Jamiel Hardware was instrumental in everything Harrisburg did going forward. He was buzzing all over the field, and nearly created the opening goal in the 30th minute. The midfielder picked out a fantastic cross to Hoppenot, but his bullet header was saved.

Meanwhile, Harrisburg went right up the pitch and 30 seconds later nearly open the scoring themselves. A flowing counterattack saw Adam Jahn with a bullet header fly inches wide of the post. It was simply the continuation of a thrilling opening half hour. 

The scoring was finally opened in the 36th minute. Sacramento striker Rodrigo Lopez, continuing his rich vein of form, clipped in a fantastic ball over the top to the onrushing Octavio Guzman who coolly slotted the ball into the side netting.

Sacramento nearly doubled their advantage just a minute later as Captain Braun won a 50-50 ball and found himself in alone. It was not to be the second, though, as the former Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC man put his shot just over the bar. 

In the second half, Sacramento came out flying. Clearly buoyed by their dominant first half performance and an inspiring half time team talk from manager and US Soccer legend Preki, the Republic nearly doubled their advantage on 48 minutes. It was Jahn going close to snagging a memorable goal, after Lopez put a fantastic ball across the six yard box. The striker flicked the ball on, but it sailed harmlessly wide just inches away.

Harrisburg already dwindling hopes took a hit in the 51st minute as Hoppenot went down with an injury, and it appeared serious. He made his way back on quickly, but would soon be substituted off. 

The night would continue to be frustrating for Justin Braun. He created space for himself really well in the 57th minute, but his curling strike wound up well wide. 

The Sacramento goal scorer, Guzman, would be forced off with an injury in the 62nd minute. Thomas Stewart, the creative midfielder from Northern Ireland, was called upon to replace him.

Sacramento had yet another chance to put the game to bed in the 68th minute. Stewart went on a slaloming run down the left channel, and the Ulsterman picked out a fantastic cutback pass to Lopez. The hero of the semifinal was unable to finish this time though, and blazed his strike over the bar.

Sacramento somehow managed to waste an even better chance to win the match in the 72nd minute. Gilberto picked a pocket in the center of midfield, and found himself in on goal. The ball got caught under his feet just a bit, but through some fancy footwork the Brazilian worked space for himself to shoot. His shot, like so many others from Sacramento tonight, slid just wide of the post.

Stewart had yet another fantastic chance to put the game away in the 82nd minute. The increasingly influential Gilberto strode through the midfield and slipped in the Ulsterman. He went around the keeper, but the angle was just too tight, and he blazed his strike over the bar.

The Northern Irishman had another chance just two minutes later. Braun continued his tireless work and a scything pass made its way to Stewart just inside the box. He turned and looked to pass the ball into the far corner, but it slid harmlessly wide of the post.

As we got closer to the final whistle, the action became increasingly frantic. Harrisburg were begging for a penalty as Robbie Derschang's cross was blocked by Michael Daly. It looked to come off the defender's hand, but nothing was given.

Just a moment later, Sacramento had an umpteenth chance to finish the game off. Lopez was played in behind, but his initial strike was well saved. The rebound fell to the captain, but Braun was unable to find his goal as his shot was cleared off the line.

Just one minute later, Emrah Klimenta nearly gifted Harrisburg a most unlikely equalizer. The Islanders threw a rather aimless ball into the box, but the defender seemed unsure whether to head to his keeper or out for a corner, and it was destined for the corner at the near post. Jacob Gleeson did wonderfully well to save.

Then, in stoppage time, Harrisburg had one last glorious chance. A slide rule pass through the box found Hoppenot on the edge of the six yard box, but his finish could only find Gleeson's midsection. That would be their last chance to equalize.

Stewart tucked away the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and Sacramento finally have their second goal. The Northern Irishman is in behind for the third time, and he rounded Nicholas Noble before calmly firing the ball into the roof of the net. Cue bedlam at Bonney Field, and that would be the goal that clinched the USL PRO Championship. 

It was a good game played by both sides, and especially when attacking the football played resembled an MLS match. There is a quickly narrowing gap in terms of quality through the lower leagues of American association football, and it was on show tonight. This was a proper match, and a great advertisement for USL PRO going forward.

Match Ratings:

Sacramento Republic: Gleeson 7, Klimenta 7, Daly 7, Vukovic 8, Kiffe 8, Alvarez 7, Guzman 8, Mirkovic 7, Lopez 8, Braun 7, Jahn 8

Harrisburg City Islanders: Noble 8, Schaffer 6, Andrews 7, Marquez 8, Bahner 6, Ekra 6, Barrill 7, Hardware 8, McLaughlin 8, Langley 6, Hoppenot 7

Man of the Match: Guzman. The midfielder sprayed the ball around very, very nicely and took the opening goal really well. Terrific performance.