Raise the Cup: Hartford Athletic Triumph In USL Jägermeister Cup Final

Samuel Careaga scored the only goal of the contest to lift the Latics over Sacramento Republic

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

Hartford Athletic claimed the first trophy in club history with a 1-0 victory over Sacramento Republic in the final of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday night. Samuel Careaga’s second-half strike was the difference between the two clubs, as Hartford also earned their first-ever victory over Republic.

The first half was more a story of missed opportunities for both sides than anything else. Hartford had the best of the early chances and nearly had the perfect start. Sacramento keeper Jarred Mazzola misplayed a ball in the box, allowing Adewale Obalola to round him, but the forward elected to shoot when he should probably have laid the ball off for the late-arriving Michee Ngalina, and his effort was well blocked from a difficult angle.

Republic grew into the game after the early opportunities for the visitors, and maybe should have scored in the 20th minute from a corner. The ball looped off the head of Russell Cicerone, and with Antony Siaha stranded, it caromed off the far post and away to safety.

At this point, it felt like Sacramento was knocking on the door, and it had another chance from another corner just a few minutes later. This time, Lee Desmond got in front of his defender, but powered a header just wide

Hartford had another good chance in the 26th minute. There was something of a goalmouth scramble, with Sebastian Anderson and Arturo Diz Pe both having efforts turned aside, before Junior Moreira blazed an attempt well over.

Sacramento was beginning to find some joy down the right-hand side, with Jack Gurr at the center of things. First, he was played into acres of space, with multiple teammates to aim at in the box, but he dragged the ball behind everyone, and the chance went begging. Then, a few minutes later, after a good combination down that side of the pitch, he blazed over from a good angle

As the first half drew to a close, Hartford were struggling to get out of its own half, as Sacramento were going through the gears and trying to get control of the game. The scores were level, but it did seem like it was the visitors who needed a change at halftime.

In the 51st minute, a slight Sacramento mix-up in the box gave Hartford a chance from short range, but the Sacramento keeper was equal to the task and diverted the ball away for a corner. From that corner, though, came the opening goal.

It was straight off the training ground, with Anderson laying the ball off to Careaga in plenty of space. No Republic player stepped out to challenge him, and he unleashed a shot from outside the box that deceived Mazzola — who looked like he might have been able to save it — and nestled in the back of the net to give Hartford the lead. It was Careaga’s third goal of the competition — joining several other players as the leading scorer — and his fifth goal of the season in all competitions for the Latics.

Hartford almost immediately looked to press its advantage and had several chances to extend the lead, but wasn’t quite able to find the right ball. Going the other way, while Sacramento did threaten, the Latics kept them from anything too dangerous; after Careaga’s goal, Republic weren’t credited with a shot until the 86th minute.

Republic then tried to test Siaha with a late flurry of opportunities, but none of them were truly difficult for the Hartford keeper, who continued to keep them at bay. The hosts later went down a man in second-half stoppage time when Sebastian Herrera received a second yellow card for a bad foul on Jordan Scarlett.

Six minutes of stoppage time turned into nearly nine, but the whistle finally blew on a Hartford victory. It’s the first time in club history that the side lifted any silverware, and a testament to the turnaround that Brendan Burke has managed. There’s still all to play for in the league — and Hartford have a quick turnaround and a trip to Oakland on Tuesday coming up — but tonight there’s plenty to celebrate, as Hartford has finally done it.