PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, May 28th, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Tickets: Here
Location: Trinity Health Stadium
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (2-6-1) vs PHOENIX RISING FC (6-5-0)
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic’s match at FC Tulsa last week was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests of FC Tulsa covered persons.
Hartford Athletic are coming off a thrilling 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls II last Saturday, capped off by a stoppage time winner from Corey Hertzog. With the game tied 2-2 in the second minute of stoppage time, Hartford were given a corner kick. Danny Barrera delivered a quality ball into the box that was headed by Conor McGlynn and touched into the net by Corey Hertzog from just a few feet in front of the goal, sealing the win for Hartford. The Green and Blue took and lost the lead twice, with goals from Luka Prpa off of a throw-in and Joel Johnson off of another corner kick. Offensively, this was Hartford’s best game of the season. It was the first time they scored more than one goal in league play, they took 18 shots (seven on target), and had 2.31 expected goals while scoring three.
IN THE MOOD
After last week’s match against Tulsa was postponed, Hartford Athletic are hungry to get back on the game pitch and Coach Watling expressed that when speaking on this week of training leading up to Saturday. “We’re in the mood,” said the Gaffer. “Yesterday was probably one of the best [training] sessions we’ve had all season. We’re in a good place.”
BRICK BY BRICK
After a rocky 0-6-1 start to the season, Hartford Athletic are a win away from making May a perfect bounce back month. They’ve got back to back home wins under their belt and are carrying loads of momentum, but Coach Watling has emphasized that they are “not out of the woods yet,” as they continue their stride up the Eastern Conference table. The Green and Blue will face a huge test on Saturday against a storied Phoenix club that sits in fourth in the Western Conference table, but they will have their home fans backing them. Watling has also stated that his squad has to build off of each win “brick by brick” to keep their strong run of form going.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Luka Prpa, MF #11
Luka Prpa has made two starts in a row for Hartford, and he’s taken full advantage of his recent boost in playing time. He scored the opening goal last week against NYRBII, and the midfielder has shown confidence while putting pressure on the opposition in the attacking third. In the last two games, he’s had five touches inside the 18-yard box and has attempted five shots. When Prpa is on the ball in a scoring area, he does not hesitate to go for goal. The 23-year old in his second year with the club is having a quality month of May.
Phoenix Rising FC, Luis Seijas, MF #18
Luis Seijas has been the leader of Phoenix’s attacking play, scoring five goals on 13 shots across his ten appearances. The midfielder has been voted to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week twice this season (week 5 and week 7), and made waves around the league with an outstanding game winning goal against Miami FC that won him the league’s Goal of the Month award for April.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Phoenix Rising FC are coming off a lopsided 7-0 loss to New Mexico United. Given the crooked final score, it is important to note that Phoenix was missing several key players due to positive COVID-19 tests. The game was scheduled to be played on Saturday the 21st, but was moved to Tuesday at the UNM Soccer Complex. Phoenix pulled up six academy players who all made their league debut in the game. This is Rising’s second straight blowout loss, falling to Tampa Bay 5-1 on May 15th. Despite the tough stretch, the club still sports a winning record and is on the top side of the Western Conference table.
INJURY REPORT:
Hartford Athletic:
Out: Ariel Martinez (Achilles), Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Knee), Damon Rouse (Concussion)
Questionable: Jimmy Slayton (Hip flexor)
Phoenix Rising FC:
Out: Niall Dunn (Hip), Channing Chasten (Calf)
Questionable: James Musa (Hamstring), Aodhan Quinn (Lower body), Kevon Lambert (Lower Body)
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvPHX
