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Sacramento Republic Player Darek Formella Scores Winning Goal Hours After Learning Of Father's Passing

Sacramento Republic Player Darek Formella Scores Winning Goal Hours After Learning Of Father's Passing

It was a hugely emotional celebration from the Pole...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Emotions spilled out for Darek Formella after the Sacramento Republic player scored the winning goal for his club, just three hours after finding out his dad had passed away.

The 23-year old's father lost a lengthy battle with cancer and Formella was told the news prior to his team's game against Rio Grande Valley.

He decided not to tell anybody and carried on as normal, scoring the winner ten minutes from time. But as he wheeled away having found the net, he couldn't hold back his emotions and was flooded with tears as he fell to his knees and then sunk to the floor.

There is also a moment where Formella appears to tell a shocked teammate during the celebration.

Formella posted a statement on Twitter to explain his celebration and tell fans that he will be miss the upcoming game against Energy FC to spend time with his family.

"Last couple of weeks was very tough for me and my family," he wrote on social media.

"My father was struggling with cancer. Three hours before the game, I found out that my dad had passed away.

"I tried not to show to anyone that something wrong was happening, keep focused on the game and do my job as good as I can, but after I scored I couldn't keep my emotion and just started crying.

"I'm in Poland right now and I will miss the next game against Energy FC, but I will come back after this game and be ready to give everything that I have for Sac to the rest of the season!" I

In April this year, a referee ended a youth game between Braga and Benfica early after Braga Under 19 player David Veiga's mother died in a car accident.

Veiga was on the pitch when he received the heartbreaking news, with Braga manager Artur Jorge in tears as he told the referee.

With Benfica leading 4-2, the man in the middle brought a halt to the game ahead of time out of respect for Veiga and both sets of players were completely understanding.

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Topics: Football News, Football