Hartford Athletic Blank San Antonio, Advance in USL Jägermeister Cup
The 2-0 victory takes the Latics through to the semifinals
Hartford Athletic claimed a first-ever victory over San Antonio FC in the USL Jägermeister Cup quarterfinal at Toyota Park on Wednesday night, winning 2-0 behind goals from Mamadou Dieng and Marlon Hairston.
The early games on the slate had seen only three goals across three games and through the opening phases, there was a similar element of caution about this contest. Hartford did have the better of the attacking opportunities through the first quarter of an hour though with Kyle Edwards and Samuel Careaga both going close, but neither one troubling San Antonio keeper and former Latic Richard Sanchez.
At the other end of the pitch, San Antonio did manage to build up some pressure, but a blocked Juan Aguedelo header was all they had to show for it, and the game subsequently became a even cagier affair.
It was the visitors, however, who grabbed the lead in the 36th minute, with Mamadou Dieng netting his 12th goal of the season. It was Michee Ngalina who served up an excellent cross for Dieng to head home from very close range.
Hartford’s all-time leading scorer now has 23 goals in all competitions for the club, and his goal tonight broke his own single-season scoring record, set just last season.
Following the goal, Hartford pressed for another, and nearly had it, with Kyle Edwards going close. The Latics have been able to score in bunches this season, and clearly saw an opportunity here again, with San Antonio very much on the back foot after conceding. It was not to be, however, and they had to settle for a 1-0 lead at halftime.
San Antonio came out in the second half looking like a different team, taking four shots inside the first five minutes, with Hartford keeper Antony Siaha making one save, and getting a little help from the crossbar to keep his team in the lead.
Hartford weathered the storm, however, and doubled the lead just before the hour mark, with Marlon Hairston getting his first goal of the season. The midfielder took his chance at second time of asking, grabbing his second goal in all competitions for his Hartford career.
With an incredible eleven minutes of stoppage time announced, there was still plenty of time for SAFC to find their way back into the game, and Hartford fans accustomed to their team conceding late might have begun to sweat a little. There was ultimately little need to worry, however, as while the hosts did get four shots off in stoppage time, none of them seriously troubled Siaha.
The victory makes Hartford unbeaten in its last seven games, the joint-best streak in club history, along with a run of equal length last season. It’s also the 9th clean sheet they’ve kept in all competitions in 2025 and with Siaha having been between the sticks for all of those, it draws him level with Jeff Caldwell and Renan Ribeiro for the most clean sheets by a keeper in club history.
With the win, Hartford advance to the semifinals, which will be played on September 10th. The Latics opponent will be determined from among the clubs who advanced in the other matchups: RIFC, Sacramento Republic and League One side Greenville Triumph. The semifinal draw will take place on Thursday, 8/21, and will be random, meaning that another installation of El Clamico could be in store.
Regardless of what the draw throws up next for Hartford in the Jägermeister Cup, it will play RIFC on Saturday in USL Championship action. In addition to making runs in the cup, both clubs are fighting for a place in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and it holds the potential for another instant classic in a burgeoning rivalry.