Hartford Fall 1-0 in Sacramento

June 30, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release

Despite a number of scoring chances and 12 shots in tonight’s match, Hartford Athletic couldn’t get a shot past Sacramento’s Danny Vitietllo and a late goal from Sebástian Herrera sent the Green and Blue home without a point.

The first half of tonight’s match moved slowly when it came to attacking play, as just one shot was put on target in total and neither team created much danger in the attacking third. Sacramento was able to cause some trouble for Hartford with their heavy pressing, beginning with a turnover forced by Aldar Sanchez that led to the game’s first shot from Cristian Parano in the 21st minute. Hartford responded nine minutes later with a quality spell of possession on the other side of the field, resulting in their only two shots of the half. Deshane Beckford and Michee Ngalina connected passes to find Marcus Epps for an open shot from inside the box that went wide, and Thomas Vancaeyezeele forced Danny Vitietllo’s first save of the night on the next possession. Sacramento took four more shots before the clock struck 45, but none challenged Renan Ribeiro. The score remained 0-0 at halftime.

Hartford started the second half on the front foot, accelerating the pace of play and creating two chances just minutes in. Danny Barrera laid a ball off to an open Deshane Beckford inside the box, but the Jamaican winger’s well-struck shot was blocked by Conor Donovan. It was Beckford finding Barrea with space in the box two minutes later, but his shot was also broken up by Donovan.

Sacramento answered with some time of their own in Hartford’s third, putting Renan Ribeiro to work. Hartford’s keeper got two hands on Trevor Amann’s shot at the near post in the 53rd minute, then denied two tries from Luis Felipe shortly after. Ribeiro sprung to the bottom right corner of the net to deflect Felipe’s second shot, his best save of the night.

Michee Ngalina had Hartford’s best chance of the match on a breakaway opportunity in the 69th minute. Anderson Asiedu flicked a quality ball ahead to Ngalina after a midfield turnover, leaving Hartford’s top goal scorer alone with only Vitiello to beat. Ngalina took his shot low and to the left, but Vitiello made a composed stop with his right hand to keep Hartford off the board.

The two teams stayed in a stalemate until Sebástian Herrera netted the game winning goal for Sacramento in the 87th minute. Kieran Phillips took a…