PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, August 20th, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
Match Day Promotion: $2 Beer $1 Hot Dogs
Tickets: HERE
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-14-5) vs MIAMI FC (10-8-7)
Coming off a win to break out of a five-game winless streak last week, Hartford Athletic have a chance to make it two in a row at home and move up a spot in the Eastern Conference table against Miami FC on Saturday night.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 2-1 win over Indy Eleven at home last Saturday. It was one of Hartford’s cleanest matches of the season in terms of offensive efficiency and overall control of the game, and it broke them out of a five-game winless streak. The Green and Blue got out a great start, entering Indy’s final third 13 times and putting two shots on target in the opening 15 minutes. Danny Barrera was given space a few yards out of Indy’s box and looped a sinking strike into the bottom right corner of the net, his second goal of the season. Hartford continued to apply pressure to the visiting side and struck again in the 26th minute with a goal from Ariel Martínez, a brilliant strike from the top of Indy’s box that pinged off the right post and in. Indy would take advantage of a PK in first half stoppage time, but Hartford’s 2-1 lead held for the entire second half. Hartford totaled 15 shots and put seven on target.
FRESH PRINCE OF HARTFORD
Prince Saydee had his way with the Indy Eleven midfield and back line last Saturday. The Liberian forward was all over the pitch for Hartford, using his lightning-like speed to find open space and create chances for himself and his teammates right away. He took Hartford’s first shot of the game, a strong effort on a curling shot from outside the Indy box that challenged goalkeeper Sean Lewis. A few minutes later, he played a perfect ball to JC Obregón Jr., opening up a shot opportunity for the forward, but his shot was saved. Saydee’s best play of the night was when he dashed to the top of Indy’s box from midfield with the ball and laid a pin point pass to Ariel Martínez, who finished for Hartford’s second goal of the night. Saydee has shown moments of masterful distribution and scoring ability throughout the year, scoring three goals and tallying four assists.
PROTECT HOME FIELD
Riding a home win from last week and improving their home record to 4-6-1, Hartford will face a taller task this Saturday against Miami FC. The visitors actually have a better home record than away record (3-5-4 at home, 7-3-2 on the road) and are playing some quality soccer, holding a 3-1-1 record across their last five games. Hartford has played their best soccer at Trinity Health Stadium this season, and will need to protect home field against the road warriors of Miami on Saturday night.
THE JAMAICAN CONNECTION
Saturday night’s matchup involves four Jamaican players who are quite familiar with each other, as Hartford midfielder Andre Lewis mentioned this week. He said, “Lamar Walker and I are from the same hometown (Portmore, Jamaica), Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams and I went to the same high school, and I know Romeo Parkes from football back home as well.” Lewis emphasized that he and Walker “Are like family. We always hangout back home in the offseason… It will be a fun clash between us [on Saturday].” The four Portmore natives have accomplished 23 USL Championship seasons combined. Lewis and Parkes are the veterans of the group with eight seasons in the league each.
FROM THE TRAINING GROUND:
Andre Lewis and Joel Johnson report from the training ground to give their thoughts ahead of Saturday night’s match with Miami FC.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Ariel Martínez, FW #6
Ariel Martínez scored his second goal of the season last week, a beautiful left-footed strike that pinged off the right post and in. The 36 year old has worked hard to get his fitness level back up after suffering an achilles injury just two weeks after Hartford signed him back in April, as he played 66 minutes last week, the most he’s played this season. The injury sidelined him for just under two months, but the veteran striker did not lose any of his scoring touch upon his return. Both of his goals this year have given Hartford a lead that they have kept. It’s a small sample size, but when Martínez scores, the Green and Blue are victorious.
Miami FC, Kyle Murphy, FW #9
Kyle Murphy is a proven goal scorer in the USL Championship, with 51 league goals to his name across his seven seasons so far. He currently leads Miami FC in goals with five on the year, along with Romeo Parkes. He likely will not be able to follow up his 21-goal season with Memphis last year with anything similar, but no matter the numbers, Murphy is a threat to score in any match. The 29 year old earned USL Championship Team of the Week honors last week for his two-goal performance in Miami’s impressive 3-0 win at New Mexico.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Miami FC are coming off a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United 2 last Saturday, with goals coming nearly 90 minutes apart from Mark Segbers and Florian Valot. They’ve won three of their last five matches, their most notable win coming over New Mexico United 3-0 at Isotopes Park two weeks ago. The three goals came from their two top scorers Kyle Murphy and Romeo Parkes, who both lead the team with five goals on the year. Miami got the best of Hartford in their first meeting back on April 16th, winning 2-0 and the same combination of Murphy and Parkes provided the two goals.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic:
Out: None
Miami FC:
Out: Othello Bah (Knee), Pierre Da Silva (Knee), Benjamin Ofeimu (Knee)
