Sacramento Republic FC was financially viable enough to be on the doorstep of joining MLS. Then the expansion deal fell through in February 2021 when billionaire Ron Burkle backed out shortly after he bought Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. In 2022, Sacramento Republic is proving it belongs in America’s top professional soccer league by what it’s doing on the field. Republic FC on Tuesday advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, the oldest professional soccer tournament in America, after beating two California MLS teams along the way. In doing so, manager Mark Briggs’ group has prove…
