PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, August 23rd, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut
Streaming: ESPN Plus or WTNH.com
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-16-4) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (13-5-8)
Hartford Athletic play Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for the second time in two weeks, looking to split the season series against the familiar Eastern Conference foe after falling to them 2-0 on August 12th.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 3-0 loss to Miami FC at home last Saturday. Joaquín Rivas had a hat trick for Miami, scoring once in the first half and twice in the second. His first goal deflected off of Modesto Méndez and into Hartford’s net, then he netted a PK after Boluwatife Akinyode was fouled inside Hartford’s box. Rivas put the game out of reach with his third goal in the 84th minute. Hartford took 11 shots and put three on target, but generated very few threatening scoring chances.
THE FIRST MEETING
Hartford Athletic lost to Pittsburgh 2-0 in this season’s first meeting between the two clubs just two weeks ago at Highmark Stadium. They conceded 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 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.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Hartford Athletic have played the Riverhounds 12 times, the second-most matchups they’ve had with any other team in club history (second to Loudoun, who they’ve played 14 times). The Green and Blue have beaten the familiar Eastern Conference foe just one time, a 1-0 victory at Highmark Stadium back on September 26th, 2020. They played to 1-1 and 0-0 draws with the Hounds in the 2021 season as well. Pittsburgh has outscored Hartford 22-8 in total across all matchups, and come into the match holding sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points.
THREE ALL-TIME GREAT DISTRIBUTORS ON THE PITCH
Saturday’s match will feature three of the USL Championship’s current top five all-time assist leaders: Kenardo Forbes, Danny Barrera, and Antoine Hoppenot. Forbes currently holds the most assists in league history (61), Barrera holds the third most (51), and Hoppenot holds the fifth most (46). Hoppenot also recently became the fourth player in USL Championship history to record 40 goals and 40 assists in league play after scoring his 40th career goal against New Mexico on August 5th.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC sit at the top of the Eastern Conference and hold 47 points, second in the league only to Western Conference leader Sacramento Republic FC (48 points). They are coming off a 1-0 loss to Orange County last Wednesday in California, snapping their three-game winning streak. The Hounds are an excellent defensive team, as they lead the league in clean sheets with 12 (eight of them with Jahmali Waite in net, and four of them with Luis Zamudio in net), and have allowed the second fewest goals in the Championship (21).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic: Conor McGlynn, MF #28
Conor McGlynn has been aggressive on the offensive end as of late, taking three shots last game and forcing Adrían Zendejas’ best save of the game in the first half on a laser from outside the box. With a powerful right foot and great ability to strike a ball on target from distance, an ambitious strike that finds the back of the net from McGlynn might be just what Hartford needs to pull off the upset against Pittsburgh at home.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds: Albert Dikwa, FW #9
Simply put, Albert Dikwa is one of the best goal scorers in the USL Championship. The Cameroonian striker is having the best season of his career with 12 goals, and sits two behind San Antonio’s Tani Oluwaseyi in the chase for the Golden Boot award. He is excellent at timing his runs, getting free inside the box, and finishing in traffic. Hartford will have their hands full keeping track of him away from the ball as he tries to get loose in scoring areas for his teammates to feed him.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic
Out: Edwards (hamstring), Méndez (concussion)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Out: Tony Lopez (knee)
Questionable: Illal Osumanu (ankle)
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvPIT
