Hartford Athletic are back home this Saturday after picking up a point at Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Wednesday in a 0-0 draw. This will be the second matchup between the two clubs this season, the first one favoring Birmingham 2-1 back on April 10th at Protective Stadium.
PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, July 30th, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
Tickets: HERE
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-12-5) vs BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC (10-6-5)
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a scoreless draw at Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday night. The tie snapped a three-game losing streak for Hartford, giving them their first point since they drew Detroit City FC on July 6th. The Green and Blue had their best scoring chance of the game in the first minute, when Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. headed a cross from Joel Johnson on target. After this chance, the visiting side would take only one more shot by the end of the contest. Conversely, the Toros managed 32 total shots (eight on target), the largest total for any team in a USL match this season. Despite the bombardment, the Hartford defense stood strong to not concede a goal. They recorded 23 clearances, blocked nine shots, and Yannik Oettl made eight saves.
OETTL COMING OFF SEASON HIGH IN NET
Yannik Oettl has been a mainstay in Hartford’s net since making his first start of the season on June 18th, which was a 3-0 victory over Atlanta United 2. In the last month and a half, he has started in net in all eight of Hartford’s matches, sporting a 1.34 GAA with 32 saves and three clean sheets in the process. He is coming off his most impressive game this season in Hartford’s 0-0 draw with RGVFC. Oettl survived the Toros’ barrage, stopping all eight shots on target and shutting down two big chances. His eight saves are both his and the club’s season-high in the category.
A VETERAN IN BETWEEN THE OPPOSING POSTS
While Yannik Oettl has been reliable in between the posts for Hartford, his club will face the challenge of scoring on Birmingham’s veteran keeper Matt Van Oekel on Saturday night. Van Oekel has been the backbone of the Legion’s defense this season, standing tall in net for 19 out of 21 matches. The 35 year old’s 51 saves are good for fifth in the USL Championship and his eight clean sheets are tied for second. Van Oekel is in his sixth season in the USL Championship, and his fourth with Birmingham.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Joel Johnson DF #30
Defender Joel Johnson has been a top performer for Hartford Athletic this season, as he leads the team with four goals. The 29 year old in his seventh USL Championship season has started all but one game this year, and is third on the team in total minutes played (1663). His last goal was scored against Atlanta United 2 back on June 18th, and he’s bound to get back on the scoresheet soon.
Birmingham Legion FC, Enzo Martinez MF #19
Martinez is an essential player to Birmingham’s success on the field, starting all 21 matches and leading the team in minutes played. He ranks first in several team statistics, posting team-leading totals in goals (6), shots (31), assists (4) and chances created (43). He also has the accolades to match, earning USL Team of the Week honors three times already this year. Martinez is almost always involved with the Legion’s play in the attacking third.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Birmingham Legion FC comes into Saturday’s tilt in the playoff picture with a 10-6-5 record, good for 35 points and the sixth spot on the Eastern Conference ladder. Similar to Hartford, the Legion are coming off a midweek matchup on Wednesday, theirs resulting in a 6-1 routing of Loudoun United at home. Bruno Lapa had an especially impressive day, scoring a hat trick to give him four goals on the season. While Napa was the man of the match on Wednesday, Enzo Martinez is the heart of Birmingham’s squad. He leads the Legion in goals (6), assists (4), shots (31) and chances created (43).
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic:
Out: Jimmy Slayton (Knee)
Birmingham Legion:
Out: Freddy Kleeman (ACL), Jake Rufe (Lower body)
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvBHM
