SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC and Hartford Athletic will square off for the first silverware of the USL season on Saturday night when they meet in the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup Final at Heart Health Park with Sacramento looking to earn its first silverware since its inaugural season and Hartford taking aim at another piece of history in the club’s first final. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will air live on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Sacramento Republic FC (3-1-0, 9pts; Group 1 Winner) – Republic FC earned its second trip to a final this decade after earning a second consecutive penalty shootout win in the tournament’s Semifinals, advancing 3-0 against Rhode Island FC at Centreville Bank Stadium after the teams had played to a scoreless draw through 90 minutes. Goalkeeper Jared Mazzola made one save in the shootout, continuing his emergence as one of the stories of the competition. Serving as a back-up to regular starter Danny Vitiello, Mazzola has started all six USL Jägermeister Cup games for the side and allowed only one goal. The New York native also came through in the side’s Quarterfinal against Loudoun United, making two saves in the shootout, but Republic FC has been on a strong run of form of late overall, going 8-2-3 and posting a +13-goal differential since the start of July to seal its place in the USL Championship Playoffs.

Hartford Athletic (2-0-2, 9pts; Wild Card) – Athletic earned its first trip to a final in club history in thrilling fashion with a 3-1 victory against Greenville Triumph SC at Trinity Health Stadium that saw Marlon Hairston and Michee Ngalina score late goals after Joe Farrell had opened the scoring to send the hosts past their USL League One opponent. The result continued the club’s undefeated run through the competition, which saw Hartford advance as a wild card after a penalty shootout victory against rival Rhode Island FC in the final group game before winning 2-0 on the road at San Antonio FC in the Quarterfinals. The club’s run has dovetailed with its league form, where Athletic is 9-3-2 since July 1 while scoring a league-high 27 goals. That has included a 6-0-1 record on the road as the side heads to Sacramento looking for its first win against Republic FC.

Opta Says

-6.63 – Republic FC goalkeeper Jared Mazzola has posted a -6.63 Goals Prevented mark during the USL Jägermeister Cup, recording a save percentage of 95.5 percent to lead the side into the Final.

14 – Hartford Athletic has scored 14 goals in its six games in the USL Jagermeister Cup run, the most of any team in the tournament, with five players tied for the team lead with two goals apiece.

Players to Watch

Sacramento Republic FC – Russell Cicerone: The veteran forward has produced a positive season, leading the side in goal contributions with eight goals and four assists in the USL Championship campaign, and has been central to the club’s recent run of form ranking third in the league since July 1 with a +4.32 Goals Added mark.

Hartford Athletic – Michee Ngalina: The 2022 USL Championship Young Player of the Year has come into his own over the past three months, logging a league-best +4.90 Goals Added mark per American Soccer Analysis since July 1 while recording a goal and assist in Hartford’s two knockout stage victories.

Discipline Report

Sacramento Republic FC – None

Hartford Athletic – None

Referees
REF: Matthew Corrigan
AR1: Chris Schurfranz
AR2: A. Max Smith
4TH: Matt Thompson
Reserve AR: Austin Holt