Norwalk native Jonathan Jiménez scored a 95th-minute goal, and Hartford Athletic defeated Sacramento Republic FC, 3-2, at Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the USL Championship playoffs.
It was the second win over Sacramento in a week, as Hartford also beat them in the Jagermeister Cup Final last Saturday.
Jimenez’s dramatic late strike gave Hartford its seventh win in eight games, and clinched the club a playoff spot for the first time since 2020. Athletic (13-10-5, W-L-D) sit third in the USL East, with 44 points. The team has two games left on its regular-season schedule, and can clinch a home playoff game if it wins out.
Saturday night’s game was a back-and-forth affair as Hartford raced out to a 2-0 lead, first on an 18th-minute goal from Sebastian Anderson, then on a 38th-minute score from Michee Ngalina. Sacramento responded with two goals of their own, however, and Dominik Wanner tapped one home in the 50th minute to tie things up.
Jimenez took a pass from Hadji Barry, went behind the back, and then unleashed a shot in traffic while falling down, nestling it perfectly in the back of the net for the winner.
It was the final home game of the season for Hartford. The team next faces Tampa Bay on Saturday in Florida.
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