The stage is set for a clash at the top of the Group F table as Hartford Athletic hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Friday night. Hartford and Pittsburgh each have 16 points this season with the Hounds holding first place due to the goal differential tiebreaker. With two games in hand, this is a huge chance for the Boys in Green to separate themselves from Pittsburgh and earn home-field in the first round of the playoffs.
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-1-1) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (5-3-1)
Date: Friday, August 28th
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT
Tickets: https://bit.ly/31pq5zo
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch or ESPN+
International Viewers: YouTube
Program: https://www.hartfordathletic.com/program
LAST TIME OUT:
Two Markus Nagelstad free kicks saw Hartford claw their way back to a 2-2 draw against Loudoun United. Down 2-0 late in the match, things looked done and dusted until Hartford won a string of free kicks in a position outside of the box. The first, in the 84th minute, the Norwiegan stuck it in the top corner to cut the lead in half. Hartford won another free kick in the same area in the 88th minute. Naglestad stepped up and struck the crossbar, Alex Dixon followed up and headed it in to bring things level. Hartford continued to press in extra time but couldn’t find the winner, but thanks to Naglestad, Hartford walked away with an important point.
A NEW LEADER:
With Ever Guzmán absent the past two matches, the majority of the attacking chances have gone to Alex Dixon and he has made the most of them. Dixon has scored in back-to-back matches and has passed Wojciech Wojcik as the all-time leader in goals scored in club history with 8. Despite an injury riddled campaign, Dixon still managed to score 5 goals in 2019. This season, he’s already scored 3 in just 6 matches.
HOME COOKING:
When the doors to Dillon Stadium opened last year, Hartford Athletic found a real home-field advantage. The 2019 version of the Boys in Green earned 5 of their 8 wins at Dillon and finished with an overall record of 5-4-1. This season, they’re on an even better pace. Athletic has a 4-0-1 record at home, the one draw coming last Sunday night against Loudoun United FC. Pittsburgh, however, was immune to last season’s success, defeating Hartford 4-2 on a swelteringly hot July afternoon.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Markus Naglestad, F #20:
Naglestad proved to be the hero on Saturday night, but he may be called on for more tomorrow. With the health of Ever Guzmán in question, it's quite possible Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi inserts Markus into the starting lineup. His finishing ability will be necessary against a Pittsburgh group that has only allowed 8 goals in 9 matches this season.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Ray Lee, D, #23:
If the name looks familiar, it should. Lee started 30 matches at Left Back for Hartford Athletic in 2019 and will be the first player from last season's roster to return to Dillon Stadium in a different uniform. Ray was a mainstay on the Hartford backline, starting 30 matches and finishing the season third in Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, and Duels Won. He also finished second in Tackles Won. Since joining Pittsburgh shortly after the restart, he has played in 3 matches, starting all three and recorded an assist in a 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC are the defending Eastern Conference Regular Season champions and entered the restart as the favorite to win Group F. Pittsburgh holds the top spot in Group F thanks to a goal differential of 14. That is in large part due to their 6-0 and 4-0 victories over Philadelphia Union II this season, but they have quality wins as well, including a 3-1 win against Louisville City FC in the opening of their new stadium. Pittsburgh’s attack is led by Kenardo Forbes who has 7 assists this season. Steevan Dos Santos, who scored 3 times in 2 matches against Hartford last season, and Robbie Mertz lead the goal scorers with 5 and 4 respectively. Wethersfield native Danny Griffin has also made a big impact for the Hounds, appearing in every match this season. He was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week in Week 4.
FOLLOW ONLINE:
Can’t watch? Stay in touch with our live commentary @hfdathletic or by following #HFDvPIT
The stage is set for a clash at the top of the Group F table as Hartford Athletic hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Friday night. Hartford and Pittsburgh each have 16 points this season with the Hounds holding first place due to the goal differential tiebreaker. With two games in hand, this is a huge chance for the Boys in Green to separate themselves from Pittsburgh and earn home-field in the first round of the playoffs.
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-1-1) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (5-3-1)
Date: Friday, August 28th
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT
Tickets: https://bit.ly/31pq5zo
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch or ESPN+
International Viewers: YouTube
Program: https://www.hartfordathletic.com/program
LAST TIME OUT:
Two Markus Nagelstad free kicks saw Hartford claw their way back to a 2-2 draw against Loudoun United. Down 2-0 late in the match, things looked done and dusted until Hartford won a string of free kicks in a position outside of the box. The first, in the 84th minute, the Norwiegan stuck it in the top corner to cut the lead in half. Hartford won another free kick in the same area in the 88th minute. Naglestad stepped up and struck the crossbar, Alex Dixon followed up and headed it in to bring things level. Hartford continued to press in extra time but couldn’t find the winner, but thanks to Naglestad, Hartford walked away with an important point.
A NEW LEADER:
With Ever Guzmán absent the past two matches, the majority of the attacking chances have gone to Alex Dixon and he has made the most of them. Dixon has scored in back-to-back matches and has passed Wojciech Wojcik as the all-time leader in goals scored in club history with 8. Despite an injury riddled campaign, Dixon still managed to score 5 goals in 2019. This season, he’s already scored 3 in just 6 matches.
HOME COOKING:
When the doors to Dillon Stadium opened last year, Hartford Athletic found a real home-field advantage. The 2019 version of the Boys in Green earned 5 of their 8 wins at Dillon and finished with an overall record of 5-4-1. This season, they’re on an even better pace. Athletic has a 4-0-1 record at home, the one draw coming last Sunday night against Loudoun United FC. Pittsburgh, however, was immune to last season’s success, defeating Hartford 4-2 on a swelteringly hot July afternoon.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Markus Naglestad, F #20:
Naglestad proved to be the hero on Saturday night, but he may be called on for more tomorrow. With the health of Ever Guzmán in question, it’s quite possible Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi inserts Markus into the starting lineup. His finishing ability will be necessary against a Pittsburgh group that has only allowed 8 goals in 9 matches this season.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Ray Lee, D, #23:
If the name looks familiar, it should. Lee started 30 matches at Left Back for Hartford Athletic in 2019 and will be the first player from last season’s roster to return to Dillon Stadium in a different uniform. Ray was a mainstay on the Hartford backline, starting 30 matches and finishing the season third in Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, and Duels Won. He also finished second in Tackles Won. Since joining Pittsburgh shortly after the restart, he has played in 3 matches, starting all three and recorded an assist in a 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC are the defending Eastern Conference Regular Season champions and entered the restart as the favorite to win Group F. Pittsburgh holds the top spot in Group F thanks to a goal differential of 14. That is in large part due to their 6-0 and 4-0 victories over Philadelphia Union II this season, but they have quality wins as well, including a 3-1 win against Louisville City FC in the opening of their new stadium. Pittsburgh’s attack is led by Kenardo Forbes who has 7 assists this season. Steevan Dos Santos, who scored 3 times in 2 matches against Hartford last season, and Robbie Mertz lead the goal scorers with 5 and 4 respectively. Wethersfield native Danny Griffin has also made a big impact for the Hounds, appearing in every match this season. He was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week in Week 4.
FOLLOW ONLINE:
Can’t watch? Stay in touch with our live commentary @hfdathletic or by following #HFDvPIT
