Hartford Athletic advances to USL Cup final for second straight year

Hartford’s Augustine Williams (9) tries to control the ball during Tuesday night’s USL Cup semifinal in Hartford. The Athletic prevailed, 2-1 to advance to the championship match. (Photo courtesy Hartford Athletic)

The Hartford Athletic scored twice in the first 37 minutes to earn a 2-1 win over Colorado Springs Silverbacks on Tuesday night at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford and advance to the championship match in the USL Cup tournament for the second straight year.

Hartford (12-5-11, 5-0-1 USL Cup) will face Louisville City for the title in October. Hartford won their first championship trophy by winning this USL Cup crown a year ago. Louisville City, a two-time Cup champion, beat San Antonio FC, 8-7 in a penalty kick shootout after the two teams battled to a 0-0 tie.

Hartford grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third minute when as Sebastian Anderson retrieved a cross on the top-right edge of the penalty area and slipped a pass inside to Junior Moreira, who fired a low shot to the left corner that was redirected in by Barry Coffey near the penalty spot. It was Coffey’s second goal of the USL Cup and eighth of the year for Hartford.

The Athletic made it 2-0 with eight minutes left in the first half. A corner kick from Anderson was booted into the net at the near post by Diz Pe for his first goal of the season for Hartford.

Hartford had some good chances in the second half but were denied by Colorado Springs goalie Christian Herrera.

Augustine Williams broke onto a ball on the left side and centered for Michee Ngalina, whose close-range shot was gobbled up by Herrera in the 79th minute. Coffey had a chance to add his second of the night with 15 minutes to go, but had his shot blocked in the six-yard area by Talen Maples.

Colorado Springs (15-10-4, 5-1 USL Cup) cut the deficit in half as a streaking Jonas Fjeldberg sent the ball past Hartford goalie Antony Siaha in the 82nd The visitors kept the pressure on in the late going, however, Hartford held on for a 2-1 win.

Siaha made five saves in goal for Hartford to secure the victory. The game was played before 2,611 fans.

Hartford returns to USL Championship play on Saturday night when they host Tampa Bay on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Trinity Health Stadium.