PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, June 11th, 2022
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Location: Torero Stadium, San Diego, California
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (2-7-2) vs SAN DIEGO LOYAL (6-3-4)
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic will be embarking on another long road trip after earning one point in a hard fought 1-1 tie with El Paso Locomotive FC last Saturday night. Each team had dangerous opportunities in the first half, but neither could find the back of the net. El Paso made an early sub in the second half, entering Diego Abarca into the game. The 16-year-old Abarca opened up the scoring with a magnificent left-footed strike from the top of Hartford’s box in the 56th minute. Hartford was able to answer with their own substitutions, as Peter-Lee Vassell replaced Danny Barrera in the 64th minute. Four minutes later, Corey Hertzog launched a throw into the box and El Paso’s keeper deflected the ball back into traffic where Vassell was in the right place at the right time, netting the equalizer off the deflection. This score would hold for the remainder of the match.
A FULL 90 MINUTES
Over the past two weeks, Head Coach Harry Watling has repeatedly emphasized the need for his club to consistently play like the “big team.” Following the 1-1 tie with El Paso last Saturday, he said, “We’ve got to evolve from being that team we’ve become, which is a team that fights and can dominate when we really put our foot on the gas, to a team that arrives like that at the beginning of the game and puts 90 minutes together.”
20 OUT OF 20
Saturday in El Paso, Hartford’s second half substitutions proved to to turn the tide of the game in Hartford’s favor. El Paso controlled the first half of the contest and Hartford’s gaffer decided to shake up his lineup in the second. He made five substitutions, including the rare choice to take Hartford captain Danny Barrera out of the game, replacing him with Jamaican Midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell. This decision was validated just minutes later when Vassell scored the equalizer off of a rebound in the box. Post-game, Watling further elaborated on the greater than usual substitutions, saying, “It’s a squad game. We’ve got twenty players on our roster and we need all twenty of them.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Modou Jadama, DF #23
Mo Jadama has been an anchor on the backline for Hartford all season, impressively playing every minute of every game up until this point. He had an exceptional performance in a 1-1 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC, using his 6’1, 180-pound frame to shut down on the many dangerous chances created by the home side. Jadama’s willingness to lay his body on the line and his poise with the ball sets him apart from many of his defensive counterparts around the league. The Gambian’s assist to Corey Hertzog on Hartford’s game-winning stoppage-time goal against New York Red Bulls II is an added bonus to his 2022 resumé.
San Diego Loyal SC, Thomas Amang, FW #23
U.S. soccer royalty and San Diego Loyal SC manager Landon Donovan needed a spark after his squad faced a 2-0 halftime deficit against New York Red Bulls II last time out. 24 year old forward Thomas Amang was called upon to help reverse the game script and made an instantaneous impact on the pitch just minutes after entering the game. His elegant jumping header in the 50th minute reached the back of the net and brought the Loyal back within striking distance. In pursuit of furthering their comeback, the Loyal kept their foot on the gas and were rewarded with their efforts after another Amang goal. The Cameroonian one touched his right-footed half volley past the Red Bulls II goalkeeper in the 88th minute, securing a point on the road. Amang has a wealth of momentum heading into a matchup with Hartford Athletic this weekend
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
San Diego Loyal SC are looking to notch their first win since topping the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-2 with an 88th minute goal in their April 30th contest. They have grabbed a point in each of their last two games, most recently scoring two second half goals to tie the New York Red Bulls II 1-1 on the road. San Diego is tied for second place in the goal-scoring ranks of the USL Championship with 27 on the season. Their offensive prowess and persistence is evidenced by their results, only conceding one clean sheet so far this season and scoring multiple goals in 10 of 13 contests. They currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings with 22 points. The Loyal are led by Kyle Vassell, who not only leads his team with eight goals in 13 appearances, but also ranks second among all USL Championship players in goals scored.
INJURY REPORT:
Hartford Athletic:
Out: Ariel Martinez (Achilles), Damon Rouse (Concussion)
San Diego Loyal:
None
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #SDvHFD
