PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, August 19th, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford return home for the first of three home matches in an eight-day span, beginning with a matchup against Miami FC. Both teams sit below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, and have a chance to complete a six point swing to leap frog closer to the top side of the table.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic fell to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday 2-0, conceding both goals in the first half. The first was in the 16th minute, when Albert Dikwa took a touch just inside the Hartford box then fired it past goalkeeper Joe Rice. In the 42nd minute, former Athletic forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. was awarded and converted a penalty kick to increase the Hounds’ lead to two. Hartford generated just four shots (one on target) all match.
GREAT TIME TO BE AT HOME
Hartford Athletic have a chance to stack up 12 points and keep their playoff hopes alive, as they’ll play three heavily weighted games in a row at home (vs. Miami on 8/19 vs. Pittsburgh on 8/23, vs. El Paso on 8/26) to finish the month of August. They currently sit 13 points below the playoff line and 10 points behind Miami, giving them a chance for a six point swing on Saturday night. “They’re fighting for the same position that we are,” said Coach Namazi about Miami FC earlier this week. “We’re ready for this game. We know it’s a six point swing with a close rival, and I think the boys are mentally ready for this one.”
MATCHUP HISTORY
Hartford Athletic are 2-3-1 against Miami FC all-time, dating back to 2021. Athletic’s only one against the familiar Eastern Conference opponent came in July in 2021, when Danny Barrera and Conor McGlynn connected on a goal to give Hartford a 2-0 lead in the second half. Barrera backheeled a ball to McGlynn outside the box, and McGlynn blasted his shot low to the bottom left corner of the net. Both players still remain on the team two years later, and will look to connect again on Saturday night.
RED HOT RICE
Joe Rice has been on a hot streak recently, winning two Teams of the Week and two Saves of the Week in the last three weeks. He was awarded TOTW in week 20 for his seven-save shutout, and then again in week 22 for his six save performance. Both matches resulted in Hartford Athletic wins. Additionally, Rice won Save of the Week in week 21 for his diving stop of Jorge Hernandez’s shot despite Hartford losing that match. He also won Save of the Week the next week after he saved two consecutive shots from New Mexico inside Hartford’s box.
LEWIS RETURNS
Andre Lewis received two yellow cards in Hartford’s last home match against New Mexico United. As a result, he was ejected from the match and suspended for the club’s next match. After sitting out of last week’s match at Pittsburgh, Lewis is back and eligible for selection. Prior to the suspension, Lewis had been in the gameday lineup for 16 consecutive matches including 11 starts. The Jamaican midfielder is also one of Hartford’s best generators of offensive chances, serving as a reliable player on the ball with strong distribution ability to help Hartford plant their flag in their opponent’s third.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic: Edgardo Rito, Defender #72
Edgardo Rito has played in all 11 matches since he joined Hartford on June 8th from Oakland Roots. Since being subbed on in the 40th minute of his first match with the club, Rito has started and played all 90 minutes of every match since. Including his time in Oakland, the Venezuelan has 31 chances created this season, seven more than the next closest on Hartford’s roster.
Miami: Christian Sorto, Forward #99
Christian Sorto is second on The Miami FC with four goals. He has two goals from direct free kicks, no one else on the team has even one. After missing the first match of the season, Sorto has played in all 23 matches including 18 starts. The Salvadoran forward is two appearances away from 100 in the USL Championship with time spent with both Loudoun United FC and Rio Grande Valley FC Toros across five years.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic
Out: Edwards (hamstring)
The Miami FC
Out: None
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvMIA
