Norwalk native Jonathan Jiménez scored a 95th-minute goal, and Hartford Athletic defeated Sacramento Republic FC , 3-2, at Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the USL Championship playoffs.

It was the second win over Sacramento in a week, as Hartford also beat them in the Jagermeister Cup Final last Saturday.

Jimenez’s dramatic late strike gave Hartford its seventh win in eight games, and clinched the club a playoff spot for the first time since 2020. Athletic (13-10-5, W-L-D) sit third in the USL East, with 44 points. The team has two games left on its regular-season schedule, and can clinch a home playoff game if it wins out.

Saturday night’s game was a back-and-forth affair as Hartford raced out to a 2-0 lead, first on an 18th-minute goal from Sebastian

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