PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, June 24th, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut
Tickets: HERE
Hartford Athletic welcome Indy Eleven to Trinity Health Stadium. It’s the second matchup between the two clubs in as many weeks, as they played to a draw in Indy on June 10th.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 4-3 loss to Charleston Battery at home last week. Two late-game goals from the visitors decided this one, as Derek Dodson and AJ Paterson scored three minutes apart to steal three points on the road. Hartford went into halftime up 2-1 thanks to goals from Andre Lewis (1) and Kyle Edwards (6). A crucial moment in the game came when Antoine Hoppenot received his second yellow and subsequent red card in the 47th minute, forcing Hartford to play a man down for the majority of the second half. Athletic caught a break shortly after this, however, as they were granted a penalty in the 55th minute. Edwards converted it to give the home side a 3-1 lead. Markanich scored again in the 64th minute to make it 3-2, and Derek Dodson tied the game in the 87th minute. Three minutes later, AJ Paterson uncorked a strike from outside the box that bounced off the left crossbar and into the net to win it for Charleston.
THE FIRST MEETING
Hartford and Indy played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting just two weeks ago, a match astonishing three red cards handed out. Adrián Diz Pe received the first red card in the sixth minute after a skirmish in front of Hartford’s net. Athletic took advantage of the man-up opportunity right away, getting a goal from Kyle Edwards in the 12th minute. The tide turned for Hartford when Triston Hodge received his second yellow and subsequent red card in the 49th minute, evening the match at 10 men per side. They held onto their 1-0 lead until Jack Blake equalized for Indy in the 85th minute. In stoppage time, Antoine Hoppenot broke free from the Indy defense. Indy defender Gustavo Rissi slid into Hoppenot’s legs, drawing a red card and giving Hartford a free kick about three yards outside the box. Juan Pablo Torres could not convert the kick and the game ended in a draw.
DEALING THE CARDS
Hartford have been booked for a league-leading 51 yellow cards this season. On the other side of the field, Indy hold the sixth-most bookings with 39. Saturday has the potential to be another booking-filled match with several cards dealt out.
HOPPENOT OUT
Antoine Hoppenot will be unavailable for selection this Saturday, as he’ll be serving his one-game red card suspension. This will be the first match that the nine-year USL veteran is not starting for Hartford Athletic this season. While he has just one goal and one assist so far, he has been an important piece in Hartford’s attacking play in the final third. He’s second on the team in total crosses (41), and it was two balls that he played into the box last week that led to goals from Andre Lewis and Kyle Edwards.
FAMILIAR FACES
Indy Eleven signed two former Hartford Athletic players this offseason: defender Younes Boudadi and goalkeeper Yannik Oettl. The two turned in quality campaigns for Hartford in 2022, both frequently appearing in the starting lineup. Boudadi played two seasons with the Green and Blue and totaled 61 appearances. Oettl signed with the club on loan midway through last season and made 19 appearances, ending the year tied for 11th in saves with 74. Currently, he holds a 1.21 GAA and four clean sheets.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Indy Eleven currently sits sevenths in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference table with 16 points, six points above Hartford. In Indy’s last match, a 2-1 loss, they conceded a heartbreaking 89th minute goal to Birmingham’s Enzo Martínez. Neco Brett sent a beautiful through ball into the box that Martínez tapped into the lower left corner to beat Yannik Oettl. Indy are led offensively by Aodhan Quinn and Sebastián Guenzatti, who have scored three goals apiece.
Check the Pulse
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic, Andre Lewis, MF #77
Andre Lewis scored his first goal of the season last week against Charleston Battery. Antoine Hoppenot crossed the ball into the box, and after a deflection, Lewis found the ball at his feet and did not miss his opportunity. In 43 appearances for Hartford Athletic, the 28-year-old has seven goals. An eight-year veteran of the USL Championship, Lewis was named to the Team of the Week for his performances in weeks 17 and 30 of last season.
Indy Eleven, Sebastián Guenzatti, FW #13
In the club’s previous two matches Sebastián Guenzatti has been Indy Eleven’s greatest source of offense. Last match, he scored the equalizer in the 56th minute against Birmingham. Two weeks ago against Athletic, he assisted the club’s lone goal, an 85th minute equalizer to Jack Blake. The Eleven’s captain has played all 14 matches and has over 1,200 minutes played in his first season with the club.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic
Out: None
Questionable: Kembo Kibato (RT Jones Fx)
Indy Eleven
Out: B. Rebellon (L adductor), S. Velasquez (L adductor)
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvIND
