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HARTFORD ATHLETIC (7-4-2) vs MIAMI FC (8-6-2)

Date: Wednesday, August 4th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3yAa7AV

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

Last Time Out:

Hartford Athletic took an early lead in the first half but fell short to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3-1 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.  Two second-half goals by former Athletic forward Alex Dixon and a late tally by substitute Louis Perez propelled the Riverhounds to sole possession of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division.

Danny Barrrrera!

Miami traveled to Dillon on July 24th, and lost 2-0, with both Hartford goals coming on Barrera assists. Danny’s pressing, leadership, and quality on the ball in the decisive moments are what put Miami on the back foot for large portions of the match. With the rematch brewing, Barrera is sure to have a say in this match. 11 goal contributions in 13 matches, and Barrera has Miami’s number, with 2 assists in the last match against them. Athletic will be looking to their captain to garner another positive result at home.

First Blood:

In the 9 games where Hartford have scored first, 7 of them have ended in a win. For Miami, they have scored first in 6 games, and have won 5 of them. Both teams are well coached and are set in their game plan, especially when scoring first, however, Miami in their last match against Charleston went down 2-0, only to come back in the second half to win 3-2. Hartford are yet to win a game when they have conceded first, something that Miami seems to not have as much of a struggle with. Miami come to Dillon off the back of that dramatic comeback and will fancy their chances of getting at the Athletic early, but if Hartford can get their goal first, the stats are there to show that they have the bottle to see it through.

Players to Watch:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

Barrera is having the season of his career, registering 11 goal contributions in 13 matches. Last time out against Miami, Danny assisted twice, leading Hartford to a huge 2-0 victory, earning himself a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for his performance. Barrera’s pressing and energy in the midfield against Miami was crucial, and if the Athletic want to repeat their success at home again against the in-form Miami, Barrera will need to have himself another stellar game.

Miami FC, Ariel Martinez, FW #10

With 7 goal contributions in 16 matches, Ariel Martinez is having himself a season. He has won Player of the Match for Miami in 2 of their last 3 matches. Martinez plays mainly as Miami’s central forward; however, he has also found himself playing on the left. Last time out against Hartford, Martinez was Miami’s biggest threat with 3 shots, 2 being on target. Miami will be looking to Ariel to build on his last performance against Athletic, hoping this time he will find the back of the net.

About the Opponent:

Miami travel to Dillon Stadium to inflict revenge on Hartford, who handed them their only loss in their last 7 matches. In 7 matches, Miami has won 5, drawn 1, and lost 1, scoring 14 and conceding 7. Their loss to Hartford on July 24th was the only game in this 7-match stretch in which they did not score. Miami went into their last game against Hartford as the favorite in the match, yet came away with nothing. They say revenge is best served cold, but Miami come into this one red hot and eager to win at Dillon.

Join the Conversation:

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvMIA

Game Promotions:

Thanks to Founding Partner The Hartford, it's Jr. Fire Marshal Night with a limited edition co-branded fire helmet giveaway for the first 500 fans! Learn more about the program here.

And if it couldn't get any better, it's also $2 Beer, $2 Hot Dog Night!

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (7-4-2) vs MIAMI FC (8-6-2)

Date: Wednesday, August 4th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3yAa7AV

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

Last Time Out:

Hartford Athletic took an early lead in the first half but fell short to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3-1 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.  Two second-half goals by former Athletic forward Alex Dixon and a late tally by substitute Louis Perez propelled the Riverhounds to sole possession of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division.

Danny Barrrrera!

Miami traveled to Dillon on July 24th, and lost 2-0, with both Hartford goals coming on Barrera assists. Danny’s pressing, leadership, and quality on the ball in the decisive moments are what put Miami on the back foot for large portions of the match. With the rematch brewing, Barrera is sure to have a say in this match. 11 goal contributions in 13 matches, and Barrera has Miami’s number, with 2 assists in the last match against them. Athletic will be looking to their captain to garner another positive result at home.

First Blood:

In the 9 games where Hartford have scored first, 7 of them have ended in a win. For Miami, they have scored first in 6 games, and have won 5 of them. Both teams are well coached and are set in their game plan, especially when scoring first, however, Miami in their last match against Charleston went down 2-0, only to come back in the second half to win 3-2. Hartford are yet to win a game when they have conceded first, something that Miami seems to not have as much of a struggle with. Miami come to Dillon off the back of that dramatic comeback and will fancy their chances of getting at the Athletic early, but if Hartford can get their goal first, the stats are there to show that they have the bottle to see it through.

Players to Watch:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

Barrera is having the season of his career, registering 11 goal contributions in 13 matches. Last time out against Miami, Danny assisted twice, leading Hartford to a huge 2-0 victory, earning himself a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for his performance. Barrera’s pressing and energy in the midfield against Miami was crucial, and if the Athletic want to repeat their success at home again against the in-form Miami, Barrera will need to have himself another stellar game.

Miami FC, Ariel Martinez, FW #10

With 7 goal contributions in 16 matches, Ariel Martinez is having himself a season. He has won Player of the Match for Miami in 2 of their last 3 matches. Martinez plays mainly as Miami’s central forward; however, he has also found himself playing on the left. Last time out against Hartford, Martinez was Miami’s biggest threat with 3 shots, 2 being on target. Miami will be looking to Ariel to build on his last performance against Athletic, hoping this time he will find the back of the net.

About the Opponent:

Miami travel to Dillon Stadium to inflict revenge on Hartford, who handed them their only loss in their last 7 matches. In 7 matches, Miami has won 5, drawn 1, and lost 1, scoring 14 and conceding 7. Their loss to Hartford on July 24th was the only game in this 7-match stretch in which they did not score. Miami went into their last game against Hartford as the favorite in the match, yet came away with nothing. They say revenge is best served cold, but Miami come into this one red hot and eager to win at Dillon.

Join the Conversation:

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvMIA

Game Promotions:

Thanks to Founding Partner The Hartford, it’s Jr. Fire Marshal Night with a limited edition co-branded fire helmet giveaway for the first 500 fans! Learn more about the program here.

And if it couldn’t get any better, it’s also $2 Beer, $2 Hot Dog Night!

July 31, 2021 (Pittsburgh) – Hartford Athletic took an early lead in the first half but fell short to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3-1 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.  Two second-half goals by former Athletic forward Alex Dixon and a late tally by substitute Louis Perez propelled the Riverhounds to sole possession of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division.

Pittsburgh started off the game blazing with multiple chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Hartford was able to fend off their attack to keep the game level.

The Boys in Green were out-possessed for most of the night, but ultimately struck first on a composed left-footed strike from forward Derek Dodson who slotted it home past the Riverhounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello.  The break was started off of by a beautiful backheel pass from midfielder Jeciel Cedeño to forward Christian Gomez, who then delivered a lovely through ball to Dodson to take the early lead.  The former Georgetown Hoya and Orlando City SC draftee has shined bright since donning the green and blue, with three goals in four appearances. 

In a surging attempt to level the score in the 33’, Riverhounds midfielder Kenardo Forbes sent a ball into the box to Defender Mekiel Williams.  His header was saved by Caldwell, but a rebound was struck by forward Albert Dikwa that was then stopped again by a lunging Caldwell to keep Pittsburgh off the score sheet.  The Athletic goalkeeper was outstanding all night with many more acrobatic saves to keep Hartford in the game.

The Riverhounds got their equalizer early in the second half on a point blank finish in the 49' by an airborne Dixon. The ball was delivered on a cross from Williams.

Dixon later put the Hounds ahead in the 83’ of the contest, dribbling coast to coast up the field and hitting his try past Caldwell into the upper left corner to go up 2-1. The Riverhounds didn’t look back and took a commanding 3-1 advantage on a goal from Perez in the 88'.   

Harry Watling and company look to bounce back quickly against The Miami FC on Wednesday, August 4th at Dillon Stadium as they still sit in striking distance of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division and right in the thick of the playoff picture.

July 31, 2021 (Pittsburgh) – Hartford Athletic took an early lead in the first half but fell short to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3-1 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.  Two second-half goals by former Athletic forward Alex Dixon and a late tally by substitute Louis Perez propelled the Riverhounds to sole possession of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division.

Pittsburgh started off the game blazing with multiple chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Hartford was able to fend off their attack to keep the game level.

The Boys in Green were out-possessed for most of the night, but ultimately struck first on a composed left-footed strike from forward Derek Dodson who slotted it home past the Riverhounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello.  The break was started off of by a beautiful backheel pass from midfielder Jeciel Cedeño to forward Christian Gomez, who then delivered a lovely through ball to Dodson to take the early lead.  The former Georgetown Hoya and Orlando City SC draftee has shined bright since donning the green and blue, with three goals in four appearances. 

In a surging attempt to level the score in the 33’, Riverhounds midfielder Kenardo Forbes sent a ball into the box to Defender Mekiel Williams.  His header was saved by Caldwell, but a rebound was struck by forward Albert Dikwa that was then stopped again by a lunging Caldwell to keep Pittsburgh off the score sheet.  The Athletic goalkeeper was outstanding all night with many more acrobatic saves to keep Hartford in the game.

The Riverhounds got their equalizer early in the second half on a point blank finish in the 49′ by an airborne Dixon. The ball was delivered on a cross from Williams.

Dixon later put the Hounds ahead in the 83’ of the contest, dribbling coast to coast up the field and hitting his try past Caldwell into the upper left corner to go up 2-1. The Riverhounds didn’t look back and took a commanding 3-1 advantage on a goal from Perez in the 88′.   

Harry Watling and company look to bounce back quickly against The Miami FC on Wednesday, August 4th at Dillon Stadium as they still sit in striking distance of first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Atlantic Division and right in the thick of the playoff picture.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 5 (2) – 17 (8) Pittsburgh

Corners: Hartford Athletic 1-8 Pittsburgh

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 11-14 Pittsburgh

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 Pittsburgh

Possession: Hartford Athletic 0-0 Pittsburgh

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 37.2%-62.8% Pittsburgh

Saves: Hartford Athletic 5-1 Pittsburgh

SCORING SUMMARY:

26' – Dodson (Hartford)

49' – Dixon (Pittsburgh)

83' – Dixon (Pittsburgh)

88' – Perez (Pittsburgh)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

36' – Tulu Yellow Card (Hartford)

81' – Ashitey Yellow Card (Hartford)

82' – Wiedt Yellow Card (Pittsburgh)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

Caldwell (GK); Lara (DF); Boudadi (DF); Tulu (DF); Janjigian (DF); Gómez (MF); Rogers (MF); Cedeno (MF); Barrera (MF); Dodson (FW); Martinez (FW)

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC STARTING LINEUP:

Vitiello (GK); Williams (DF); Robinson (DF); Wiedt (DF); Dixon (MF); Rovira (MF); Griffin (MF); Velarde (MF); Cicerone (MF); Dikwa‎ (FW); Forbes (FW)

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 5 (2) – 17 (8) Pittsburgh

Corners: Hartford Athletic 1-8 Pittsburgh

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 11-14 Pittsburgh

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 Pittsburgh

Possession: Hartford Athletic 0-0 Pittsburgh

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 37.2%-62.8% Pittsburgh

Saves: Hartford Athletic 5-1 Pittsburgh

SCORING SUMMARY:

26′ – Dodson (Hartford)

49′ – Dixon (Pittsburgh)

83′ – Dixon (Pittsburgh)

88′ – Perez (Pittsburgh)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

36′ – Tulu Yellow Card (Hartford)

81′ – Ashitey Yellow Card (Hartford)

82′ – Wiedt Yellow Card (Pittsburgh)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

Caldwell (GK); Lara (DF); Boudadi (DF); Tulu (DF); Janjigian (DF); Gómez (MF); Rogers (MF); Cedeno (MF); Barrera (MF); Dodson (FW); Martinez (FW)

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC STARTING LINEUP:

Vitiello (GK); Williams (DF); Robinson (DF); Wiedt (DF); Dixon (MF); Rovira (MF); Griffin (MF); Velarde (MF); Cicerone (MF); Dikwa‎ (FW); Forbes (FW)

Hartford Athletic has signed midfielder Kenan Hot to a USL Academy Contract, pending league and federation approval. The contract allows Hot to keep his college eligibility and still train and play for Hartford Athletic in USL sanctioned matches. 

"We are delighted to sign a player of Kenan’s caliber with a wonderful future ahead of him,” said Hartford Athletic Technical Director Luiz Silva. “It reinforces that we are establishing ourselves as an important component of the USL and U.S. soccer landscape when it comes to providing young players the opportunity to become better versions of themselves through a meaningful training environment, holistic approach and competitive experience.”

Hot, a 17-year old from Lincroft, New Jersey, has earned 10 caps for the USMNT U-15 team and has been named in the player pool for the U-17s for 2021. He played 8 matches for New York Red Bulls II in 2020, recording a 79.9% passing accuracy and 60.9% long passing accuracy, both the second best percentages on the team. He has verbally committed to play college soccer at Duke University. 

“This is yet another statement of intent from Hartford Athletic on what we are, a club that finds and develops talent,” Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling said. “Kenan is one of the most exciting young talents in the U.S., and he has entrusted us with his next steps of development. He can deal with the ball with quality and style and our fans will be thrilled with what he brings to the pitch.” 

Hartford Athletic hits the road for a matchup with rivals Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, July 31st. The Boys in Green return home on Wednesday, August 4th, for a matchup with Miami FC. Visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase tickets. 

Hartford Athletic has signed midfielder Kenan Hot to a USL Academy Contract, pending league and federation approval. The contract allows Hot to keep his college eligibility and still train and play for Hartford Athletic in USL sanctioned matches. 

“We are delighted to sign a player of Kenan’s caliber with a wonderful future ahead of him,” said Hartford Athletic Technical Director Luiz Silva. “It reinforces that we are establishing ourselves as an important component of the USL and U.S. soccer landscape when it comes to providing young players the opportunity to become better versions of themselves through a meaningful training environment, holistic approach and competitive experience.”

Hot, a 17-year old from Lincroft, New Jersey, has earned 10 caps for the USMNT U-15 team and has been named in the player pool for the U-17s for 2021. He played 8 matches for New York Red Bulls II in 2020, recording a 79.9% passing accuracy and 60.9% long passing accuracy, both the second best percentages on the team. He has verbally committed to play college soccer at Duke University. 

“This is yet another statement of intent from Hartford Athletic on what we are, a club that finds and develops talent,” Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling said. “Kenan is one of the most exciting young talents in the U.S., and he has entrusted us with his next steps of development. He can deal with the ball with quality and style and our fans will be thrilled with what he brings to the pitch.” 

Hartford Athletic hits the road for a matchup with rivals Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, July 31st. The Boys in Green return home on Wednesday, August 4th, for a matchup with Miami FC. Visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase tickets. 

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (7-3-2) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (8-4-3)

Date: Saturday, July 31st

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

Alex Lara opened the scoring in the 30th minute off a brilliant back post-delivery from Danny. Conor McGlynn sealed the win with a composed long-range effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net off yet another Danny Barrera assist. Despite half chances from Miami in the second half, a fantastic performance from Jeff Caldwell assured a huge 2-0 win at home. With this victory, Hartford overtake Miami in the table, leaving Athletic in 3rd place with a big run of games coming their way.

OH, DANNY BARRERA!:

Against Miami, Barrera played the entire game, picked up 2 assists, created 6 chances, completed 100% of his dribbles, and had 10 ball recoveries. Despite shining on the stat sheet, simply quantifying his impact and influence on Hartford does not tell the full story. After Hartford’s match against Miami, Technical Director Luis Silva rated Barrera’s performance “as high as possible”, later stating “If we look for his presence on the field, his leadership was really important.” If Barrera continues to lead as he has been, there’s no doubt that Hartford can do something really special this season.

A MATCH OF MARGINS:

Going into the match on Saturday, both Hartford and Pittsburgh are coming into the game with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in their last 5 games. Hartford has 18 open play goals to Pittsburgh’s 17, Hartford has 18 big chances created to Pittsburgh’s 21, and finally, Hartford has 5 clean sheets to the Riverhounds 4. With all these stats so marginally close, and the difference between average possession being only .5%, it’s clear this match is delicately poised and likely to be tightly contested.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (7-3-2) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (8-4-3)

Date: Saturday, July 31st

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

Alex Lara opened the scoring in the 30th minute off a brilliant back post-delivery from Danny. Conor McGlynn sealed the win with a composed long-range effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net off yet another Danny Barrera assist. Despite half chances from Miami in the second half, a fantastic performance from Jeff Caldwell assured a huge 2-0 win at home. With this victory, Hartford overtake Miami in the table, leaving Athletic in 3rd place with a big run of games coming their way.

OH, DANNY BARRERA!:

Against Miami, Barrera played the entire game, picked up 2 assists, created 6 chances, completed 100% of his dribbles, and had 10 ball recoveries. Despite shining on the stat sheet, simply quantifying his impact and influence on Hartford does not tell the full story. After Hartford’s match against Miami, Technical Director Luis Silva rated Barrera’s performance “as high as possible”, later stating “If we look for his presence on the field, his leadership was really important.” If Barrera continues to lead as he has been, there’s no doubt that Hartford can do something really special this season.

A MATCH OF MARGINS:

Going into the match on Saturday, both Hartford and Pittsburgh are coming into the game with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in their last 5 games. Hartford has 18 open play goals to Pittsburgh’s 17, Hartford has 18 big chances created to Pittsburgh’s 21, and finally, Hartford has 5 clean sheets to the Riverhounds 4. With all these stats so marginally close, and the difference between average possession being only .5%, it’s clear this match is delicately poised and likely to be tightly contested.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Alex Lara, DF #2

Lara is coming off a great performance against Miami, picking up his second career goal after finding some space in the box to finish a back-post delivery from Danny Barrera. He also put in 4 tackles and had 33 total passes. His inter play with the Athletic midfield and offense created many chances that led to goal scoring opportunities. Coming off a great performance that earned him a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of Week, Lara will be hungry to continue this form on the road against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Alex Dixon, FW #7

Dixon has been on it this season, with 6 goal contributions in 15 matches. Alex’s last match against New York Red Bulls II saw him finish the match with a goal and an assist, earning him a man of the match award and a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of the Week. Dixon boasts versatility, primarily being used as a center forward, but also being used out wide as a winger and an outside midfielder. Pittsburgh will be keen on getting a result against Hartford, and surely, Dixon, who is the all-time leading scorer in Hartford Athletic history, will want to have a say in that.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Luka Prpa (Foot), Preston Tabort Etaka (Hand)

Questionable: Derek Dodson (Back), Gabi Torres (Hamstring)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds:

Out: Josh Gatt (Knee)

Questionable: Jordan Dover (Leg)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host Hartford on Saturday and look to continue their tremendous form, which sees them sitting tied on points with league leaders Tampa, only being second on goal difference. Pittsburgh have won 6 of their last 8 matches, and are undefeated in their last 4. The Riverhounds are yet to score a goal from set pieces, however, of the 20 goals they’ve scored, 17 come directly from open play. Despite this, Pittsburgh rank 21st for shots on target per match. 6 of their 8 wins this season have been by one goal, which indicates that although they’ve gotten positive results, they are pragmatic in their approach and will look to make things difficult for Hartford.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #PITvHFD

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Alex Lara, DF #2

Lara is coming off a great performance against Miami, picking up his second career goal after finding some space in the box to finish a back-post delivery from Danny Barrera. He also put in 4 tackles and had 33 total passes. His inter play with the Athletic midfield and offense created many chances that led to goal scoring opportunities. Coming off a great performance that earned him a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of Week, Lara will be hungry to continue this form on the road against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Alex Dixon, FW #7

Dixon has been on it this season, with 6 goal contributions in 15 matches. Alex’s last match against New York Red Bulls II saw him finish the match with a goal and an assist, earning him a man of the match award and a spot in the USL Championship’s Team of the Week. Dixon boasts versatility, primarily being used as a center forward, but also being used out wide as a winger and an outside midfielder. Pittsburgh will be keen on getting a result against Hartford, and surely, Dixon, who is the all-time leading scorer in Hartford Athletic history, will want to have a say in that.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Luka Prpa (Foot), Preston Tabort Etaka (Hand)

Questionable: Derek Dodson (Back), Gabi Torres (Hamstring)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds:

Out: Josh Gatt (Knee)

Questionable: Jordan Dover (Leg)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host Hartford on Saturday and look to continue their tremendous form, which sees them sitting tied on points with league leaders Tampa, only being second on goal difference. Pittsburgh have won 6 of their last 8 matches, and are undefeated in their last 4. The Riverhounds are yet to score a goal from set pieces, however, of the 20 goals they’ve scored, 17 come directly from open play. Despite this, Pittsburgh rank 21st for shots on target per match. 6 of their 8 wins this season have been by one goal, which indicates that although they’ve gotten positive results, they are pragmatic in their approach and will look to make things difficult for Hartford.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #PITvHFD

Actions speak louder than words.  This commonly used phrase especially rings true to Forward Sebastian Elney, who in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic created his own clothing line called “Serendipity”.  Ideas had been circulating for years, but with ample time to create his own brand from the ground up during the offseason, Elney went to work and achieved his goal of releasing a collection before his 24th birthday.

A new signee with the Athletic in February, Elney seeked to make an immediate impact on the field with his new teammates while making “business moves” outside of playing.  He turned to fashion, an interest that sparked to new heights in the months leading up to his third season playing professionally. 

“[Creating my own brand] is something that I've wanted to do for a while”,  Elney said.  “Even dating back to college, I was really passionate about creating my own clothing line and being able to have that creative outlet to lay out different designs, different meanings, and feedback from others. And so this year, in my third season of professional soccer, I had the opportunity to actually go about doing it.  I just took that leap and I’ve really enjoyed the process.”

It wasn’t an easy task, but the former Maryland Terrapin impressively created his line by himself and with no other official collaborators.  He was always infatuated with the fashion industry's hottest trends but until now never let his own imagination come to life.   

Elney’s first collection was dropped on June 26, consisting of two t-shirts, a sweater, and a sweatshirt.  He is seen modeling his clothing items on his brand’s website and Instagram page. While playing soccer is his top priority, balancing his entrepreneurship obligations hasn’t been an issue while also being in charge of promoting his products on multiple platforms.

“The creative process is just me believe it or not”, Elney said.  “I'm outsourcing the different jobs I need all the time.  Whether it be social media, or actual manufacturing, it's kind of all been outsourced. I’m the creative director behind everything.”

The name of his clothing line, “Serendipity” surprisingly came quite easily to Elney, and his message to all who come across his brand is spreading positivity to those who are struggling.  “Serendipity to me, if I break down the definition, represents stumbling upon happiness,” Elney said.  “I think you go upon doing that by taking things day by day and trying to get the most out of each day.  Stay patient, and always be positive.”

The most popular design to buyers has been the acid wash black crewneck that has splotches of light brown and the word “Serendipity” printed in white across the middle.  The sweater is handmade and hand bleached and is selling well on Elney’s website.

“The acid wash sweater has definitely been the fan favorite so far”, Elney said.  “My family and friends love it as well.”

In addition to the crewneck, the Athletic’s forward has a black shirt, a white shirt, and a black hooded sweatshirt.  His vision for the future is to design more collections and branch out to different clothing items that can be as successful as his first release.

“A second collection is coming out soon”, Elney said.  “I’ve been expanding in terms of the different gear that's out there and trying to incorporate those items into the brand.  I'm taking it day by day and enjoying the entrepreneurship process while learning from others.”

Elney notched one goal on the young season for Hartford Athletic, against his former team New York Red Bulls II, and has played like a poised veteran up top.  He hopes to continue to thrive on the pitch and spread Serendipity’s message of discovering happiness, even in life’s most devastating hardships.  

To see more of Elney’s Serendipity collection, visit https://serendipitysent.com/ or the brand’s Instagram page @serendipitysent.

Actions speak louder than words.  This commonly used phrase especially rings true to Forward Sebastian Elney, who in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic created his own clothing line called “Serendipity”.  Ideas had been circulating for years, but with ample time to create his own brand from the ground up during the offseason, Elney went to work and achieved his goal of releasing a collection before his 24th birthday.

A new signee with the Athletic in February, Elney seeked to make an immediate impact on the field with his new teammates while making “business moves” outside of playing.  He turned to fashion, an interest that sparked to new heights in the months leading up to his third season playing professionally. 

“[Creating my own brand] is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while”,  Elney said.  “Even dating back to college, I was really passionate about creating my own clothing line and being able to have that creative outlet to lay out different designs, different meanings, and feedback from others. And so this year, in my third season of professional soccer, I had the opportunity to actually go about doing it.  I just took that leap and I’ve really enjoyed the process.”

It wasn’t an easy task, but the former Maryland Terrapin impressively created his line by himself and with no other official collaborators.  He was always infatuated with the fashion industry’s hottest trends but until now never let his own imagination come to life.   

Elney’s first collection was dropped on June 26, consisting of two t-shirts, a sweater, and a sweatshirt.  He is seen modeling his clothing items on his brand’s website and Instagram page. While playing soccer is his top priority, balancing his entrepreneurship obligations hasn’t been an issue while also being in charge of promoting his products on multiple platforms.

“The creative process is just me believe it or not”, Elney said.  “I’m outsourcing the different jobs I need all the time.  Whether it be social media, or actual manufacturing, it’s kind of all been outsourced. I’m the creative director behind everything.”

The name of his clothing line, “Serendipity” surprisingly came quite easily to Elney, and his message to all who come across his brand is spreading positivity to those who are struggling.  “Serendipity to me, if I break down the definition, represents stumbling upon happiness,” Elney said.  “I think you go upon doing that by taking things day by day and trying to get the most out of each day.  Stay patient, and always be positive.”

The most popular design to buyers has been the acid wash black crewneck that has splotches of light brown and the word “Serendipity” printed in white across the middle.  The sweater is handmade and hand bleached and is selling well on Elney’s website.

“The acid wash sweater has definitely been the fan favorite so far”, Elney said.  “My family and friends love it as well.”

In addition to the crewneck, the Athletic’s forward has a black shirt, a white shirt, and a black hooded sweatshirt.  His vision for the future is to design more collections and branch out to different clothing items that can be as successful as his first release.

“A second collection is coming out soon”, Elney said.  “I’ve been expanding in terms of the different gear that’s out there and trying to incorporate those items into the brand.  I’m taking it day by day and enjoying the entrepreneurship process while learning from others.”

Elney notched one goal on the young season for Hartford Athletic, against his former team New York Red Bulls II, and has played like a poised veteran up top.  He hopes to continue to thrive on the pitch and spread Serendipity’s message of discovering happiness, even in life’s most devastating hardships.  

To see more of Elney’s Serendipity collection, visit https://serendipitysent.com/ or the brand’s Instagram page @serendipitysent.

Back in March, the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic announced a partnership with USL League Two club AC Connecticut to form a clearer professional pathway within the Nutmeg State. Since the announcement, both teams have seen movement within their ranks as the agreement has already proven to be a consistent pathway for players to develop.

As a team in the pre-professional league, AC Connecticut provides young players the opportunity to compete at an elite level during the summer months, while maintaining college eligibility. The partnership provides the top pre-professional prospects the opportunity to train at the professional level with Hartford Athletic, and even the possibility to sign a professional contract.

“From day one we thought, ‘how can we work together for the greater good of Connecticut and ultimately build a pyramid that gives every one of our nine-year-olds an opportunity to go play professional soccer one day,’” said AC Connecticut General Manager Robin Schuppert.

Hartford recently called up AC Connecticut academy player, Jordan Blunschi, to train with the team for a week. Before that, multiple college players who competed this season in League Two for AC Connecticut had the opportunity to train with the pro team. That overlap means great potential for growth and movement between the teams as players further develop.

“I'm happy to see AC Connecticut eager to provide these players with a different opportunity to play at a higher level in the sense of effectiveness, in the sense of the opposition they play against as well as being exposed to the first team environments,” said Hartford Athletic Technical Director Luiz Silva.

The partnership between the clubs has allowed the teams to have movement of players within their ranks. Hartford had U19 USL Academy tryouts earlier this year where they identified potential talents for the youth side. Two of those identified talents have played consistent minutes for AC Connecticut at both the League Two and Academy League levels. 

“[The partnership] will help both organizations because if [players] see that there's a pathway to come up to the USL Championship by playing and being successful at that level, it will help their recruitment process,” said Hartford Head Coach Harry Watling. “It also helps our development plan for our players as well, as we can drop them down if they are in need of minutes and they can grow on and off the field.”

Young Hartford Athletic professional players and Academy contract signings have had the opportunity to play minutes at the League Two and Academy League levels with AC Connecticut to develop their game further.

“It’s crucial [to have a team] where the players, both not reaching minutes with the First Team, those who transition from Academy to First Team as well as players recovering from injuries, to have the ability to play, get minutes and continue to be match fit for whenever the First Team needs,” said Silva. “It also gives them the responsibility and the opportunity to show the First Team that they are ready. When that time comes, they have that positive performance.”

Hartford Athletic forward Alfonso Vazquez scored a hat trick for AC Connecticut in its Academy League game on July 14 against FC Malaga City. Vazquez is a 19-year-old forward who appeared in five games for the Championship side a season ago, but so far has only seen seven minutes of action this season. Through the partnership, Vazquez is able to get vital minutes at an elite level to keep him match fit as his professional development continues.

“[The partnership] helps a lot with young players, as in me, and other up-and-coming players because you play there and you'll be able to get for 90 minutes or 45 minutes to develop and try to help the team win, any chance you have,” said Vazquez. “Take advantage of it, it's a great opportunity. You're not supposed to look at it as a negative. It’s actually a great positive because you gain playing time and you can develop.”

Giovanni Calderon, a 19-year-old USL Academy contract signing for Hartford Athletic, has also played valuable minutes with AC Connecticut in League Two. He started and played the full 90 for three matches before getting called up to train with the senior Puerto Rican National Team as it prepared for FIFA World Cup Qualifying contests in May.

The examples of movement between the clubs to better the development of young talent are the ideal step for USL teams to make. Whether clubs have an established youth system and path to pro, or if they have to take the step to partner with other properties, the partnership between Hartford and AC Connecticut is an ideal model for clubs looking to take a step in the right direction to grow soccer development across the USL ecosystem.

Back in March, the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic announced a partnership with USL League Two club AC Connecticut to form a clearer professional pathway within the Nutmeg State. Since the announcement, both teams have seen movement within their ranks as the agreement has already proven to be a consistent pathway for players to develop.

As a team in the pre-professional league, AC Connecticut provides young players the opportunity to compete at an elite level during the summer months, while maintaining college eligibility. The partnership provides the top pre-professional prospects the opportunity to train at the professional level with Hartford Athletic, and even the possibility to sign a professional contract.

“From day one we thought, ‘how can we work together for the greater good of Connecticut and ultimately build a pyramid that gives every one of our nine-year-olds an opportunity to go play professional soccer one day,’” said AC Connecticut General Manager Robin Schuppert.

Hartford recently called up AC Connecticut academy player, Jordan Blunschi, to train with the team for a week. Before that, multiple college players who competed this season in League Two for AC Connecticut had the opportunity to train with the pro team. That overlap means great potential for growth and movement between the teams as players further develop.

“I’m happy to see AC Connecticut eager to provide these players with a different opportunity to play at a higher level in the sense of effectiveness, in the sense of the opposition they play against as well as being exposed to the first team environments,” said Hartford Athletic Technical Director Luiz Silva.

The partnership between the clubs has allowed the teams to have movement of players within their ranks. Hartford had U19 USL Academy tryouts earlier this year where they identified potential talents for the youth side. Two of those identified talents have played consistent minutes for AC Connecticut at both the League Two and Academy League levels. 

“[The partnership] will help both organizations because if [players] see that there’s a pathway to come up to the USL Championship by playing and being successful at that level, it will help their recruitment process,” said Hartford Head Coach Harry Watling. “It also helps our development plan for our players as well, as we can drop them down if they are in need of minutes and they can grow on and off the field.”

Young Hartford Athletic professional players and Academy contract signings have had the opportunity to play minutes at the League Two and Academy League levels with AC Connecticut to develop their game further.

“It’s crucial [to have a team] where the players, both not reaching minutes with the First Team, those who transition from Academy to First Team as well as players recovering from injuries, to have the ability to play, get minutes and continue to be match fit for whenever the First Team needs,” said Silva. “It also gives them the responsibility and the opportunity to show the First Team that they are ready. When that time comes, they have that positive performance.”

Hartford Athletic forward Alfonso Vazquez scored a hat trick for AC Connecticut in its Academy League game on July 14 against FC Malaga City. Vazquez is a 19-year-old forward who appeared in five games for the Championship side a season ago, but so far has only seen seven minutes of action this season. Through the partnership, Vazquez is able to get vital minutes at an elite level to keep him match fit as his professional development continues.

“[The partnership] helps a lot with young players, as in me, and other up-and-coming players because you play there and you’ll be able to get for 90 minutes or 45 minutes to develop and try to help the team win, any chance you have,” said Vazquez. “Take advantage of it, it’s a great opportunity. You’re not supposed to look at it as a negative. It’s actually a great positive because you gain playing time and you can develop.”

Giovanni Calderon, a 19-year-old USL Academy contract signing for Hartford Athletic, has also played valuable minutes with AC Connecticut in League Two. He started and played the full 90 for three matches before getting called up to train with the senior Puerto Rican National Team as it prepared for FIFA World Cup Qualifying contests in May.

The examples of movement between the clubs to better the development of young talent are the ideal step for USL teams to make. Whether clubs have an established youth system and path to pro, or if they have to take the step to partner with other properties, the partnership between Hartford and AC Connecticut is an ideal model for clubs looking to take a step in the right direction to grow soccer development across the USL ecosystem.

For the third time this season, Hartford Athletic has landed multiple players on the USL Championship's Team of the Week! Midfielder Danny Barrera and Defender Alex Lara both earned the honor while Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell was named honorable mention.

Barrera assisted on Lara's goal as well as Conor McGlynn's incredible strike which secured a number of landmarks for the skipper. Barrera now leads the USL Championship in assists in 2021 (7), ties the Hartford Athletic single-season record for assists which he set in 2020, and moves him into third place all-time in the USL Championship in career assists. Danny padded his already significant lead in all-time assists for Hartford, he holds 18 career assists for the club while Gabi Torres sits in second place with 5. This is Barrera's second Team of the Week selection this season.

Lara scored his second career goal for Hartford Athletic in the 30th minute to give Hartford the lead. He also had 6 interceptions in the match which vaulted him into the team lead with 20 on the season. Lara is also second on the club in shots blocked (12) and Aerial Duels won (20).

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 14

GK – Joe Kuzminsky, Charleston Battery: Joe Kuzminsky achieved a Championship first in recording both a penalty-kick save and an assist in a shutout for his side as the Battery took a 2-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence on Friday night.

D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC: Jonathan Dean scored a stoppage-time winner to lift Birmingham to a 2-1 victory on the road against Indy Eleven on Saturday night, capping a performance that also saw him record one assist, six key passes and complete 43 of 51 passes.

D – Alex Lara, Hartford Athletic*: Alex Lara scored the opening goal and defensively recorded six interceptions, eight recoveries and won 3 of 4 tackles in the Athletic’s 2-0 victory against Miami FC on Saturday night at Dillon Stadium.

D – Brent Richards, Orange County SC: Brent Richards had a goal and assist while recording two shots and three key passes in attack while also winning 7 of 12 duels, making two interceptions and completing 51 of 62 passes in OCSC’s 2-2 draw with Sacramento Republic FC.

M – Jose Gallegos, San Antonio FC: Jose Gallegos recorded one goal and two assists in a standout attacking display during San Antonio’s 3-0 victory against New Mexico United last Wednesday night, while also completing five key passes and five dribbles as well.

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Kenardo Forbes recorded a pair of assists and had six key passes overall in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on Friday night while also winning 3 of 4 tackles.

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic*: Danny Barrera recorded both assists in Hartford’s 2-0 victory against Miami FC – moving into third place in the Championship all-time – and completed 43 of 53 passes and six key passes overall in helping his side to victory.

M – Josh Drack, LA Galaxy II: Josh Drack notched a goal and an assist to help lead Los Dos to a 3-0 win against Oakland Roots SC on Sunday afternoon and was sharp on the ball throughout, completing 27 of 29 passes and winning 9 of 12 duels defensively.

F – Nathan Fogaca, San Antonio FC: Nathan Fogaca recorded a second consecutive two-goal performance in SAFC’s 3-0 victory against New Mexico United last Wednesday night, recording four shots on goal and completing 11 of 13 passes at Toyota Field.

F – Alex Dixon, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Alex Dixon had a goal and assist in the Hounds’ 3-1 victory on the road against the New York Red Bulls II, and also won 7 of 11 duels and made 13 recoveries defensively in a fine two-way performance.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti had a goal and assist, took nine shots overall including five on target and also won 3 of 4 aerial duels in the Rowdies’ 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC on Saturday night.

Bench: Jeff Caldwell (HFD)*, Jonathan Gomez (LOU), Joe Farrell (PHX), Lewis Hilton (TBR), Todd Wharton (PIT), Rodrigo Lopez (RGV), Jorge Hernandez (LA)

For the third time this season, Hartford Athletic has landed multiple players on the USL Championship’s Team of the Week! Midfielder Danny Barrera and Defender Alex Lara both earned the honor while Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell was named honorable mention.

Barrera assisted on Lara’s goal as well as Conor McGlynn’s incredible strike which secured a number of landmarks for the skipper. Barrera now leads the USL Championship in assists in 2021 (7), ties the Hartford Athletic single-season record for assists which he set in 2020, and moves him into third place all-time in the USL Championship in career assists. Danny padded his already significant lead in all-time assists for Hartford, he holds 18 career assists for the club while Gabi Torres sits in second place with 5. This is Barrera’s second Team of the Week selection this season.

Lara scored his second career goal for Hartford Athletic in the 30th minute to give Hartford the lead. He also had 6 interceptions in the match which vaulted him into the team lead with 20 on the season. Lara is also second on the club in shots blocked (12) and Aerial Duels won (20).

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 14

GK – Joe Kuzminsky, Charleston Battery: Joe Kuzminsky achieved a Championship first in recording both a penalty-kick save and an assist in a shutout for his side as the Battery took a 2-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence on Friday night.

D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC: Jonathan Dean scored a stoppage-time winner to lift Birmingham to a 2-1 victory on the road against Indy Eleven on Saturday night, capping a performance that also saw him record one assist, six key passes and complete 43 of 51 passes.

D – Alex Lara, Hartford Athletic*: Alex Lara scored the opening goal and defensively recorded six interceptions, eight recoveries and won 3 of 4 tackles in the Athletic’s 2-0 victory against Miami FC on Saturday night at Dillon Stadium.

D – Brent Richards, Orange County SC: Brent Richards had a goal and assist while recording two shots and three key passes in attack while also winning 7 of 12 duels, making two interceptions and completing 51 of 62 passes in OCSC’s 2-2 draw with Sacramento Republic FC.

M – Jose Gallegos, San Antonio FC: Jose Gallegos recorded one goal and two assists in a standout attacking display during San Antonio’s 3-0 victory against New Mexico United last Wednesday night, while also completing five key passes and five dribbles as well.

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Kenardo Forbes recorded a pair of assists and had six key passes overall in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on Friday night while also winning 3 of 4 tackles.

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic*: Danny Barrera recorded both assists in Hartford’s 2-0 victory against Miami FC – moving into third place in the Championship all-time – and completed 43 of 53 passes and six key passes overall in helping his side to victory.

M – Josh Drack, LA Galaxy II: Josh Drack notched a goal and an assist to help lead Los Dos to a 3-0 win against Oakland Roots SC on Sunday afternoon and was sharp on the ball throughout, completing 27 of 29 passes and winning 9 of 12 duels defensively.

F – Nathan Fogaca, San Antonio FC: Nathan Fogaca recorded a second consecutive two-goal performance in SAFC’s 3-0 victory against New Mexico United last Wednesday night, recording four shots on goal and completing 11 of 13 passes at Toyota Field.

F – Alex Dixon, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Alex Dixon had a goal and assist in the Hounds’ 3-1 victory on the road against the New York Red Bulls II, and also won 7 of 11 duels and made 13 recoveries defensively in a fine two-way performance.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti had a goal and assist, took nine shots overall including five on target and also won 3 of 4 aerial duels in the Rowdies’ 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC on Saturday night.

Bench: Jeff Caldwell (HFD)*, Jonathan Gomez (LOU), Joe Farrell (PHX), Lewis Hilton (TBR), Todd Wharton (PIT), Rodrigo Lopez (RGV), Jorge Hernandez (LA)

Alex Lara opened the scoring in the 30th minute and Connor McGlynn sealed the win with a composed long-range effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net and pushed Hartford to a 2-0 victory over Miami FC. Despite half chances from Miami in the second half, a fantastic performance from Jeff Caldwell assured a huge 2-0 win at home. With the victory, Hartford overtake Miami in the table, leaving Athletic in 3rd place with a big run of games coming their way.

The opening 15 minutes of the match saw Hartford possess comfortably with 60% possession. Danny had a crack from distance, forcing the Miami keeper to make a save. Despite a large spell of possession from Athletic, there were minimal chances from both teams. This pattern of possession for Hartford would not continue throughout the match, as Miami ended the night with 59% possession. Despite this shift in control of the ball, Hartford was dynamic in their press, forcing the opposition into meaningless possession where they couldn’t really threaten Athletic. The breakthrough would come in the 30th minute, as a rebound off Barrera’s freekick would be delivered to the back post by Danny. Lara, with his second career goal, was in a great spot, waiting for the second ball inside the 6-yard box.

As the second half unfolded, Athletic was comfortable letting Miami dictate possession, forcing them into half chances and long-range efforts. Although Miami out possessed Hartford in the second half, the press from Athletic was superb. The midfield and offense were moving in unison, forcing turnovers in key areas of the field, and especially high up the pitch. None as important as the turnover by Barrera, resulting in a cheeky ball roll back to McGlynn, who calmly passed it into the bottom left corner. Jeff Caldwell, who is already coming off some stellar performances for Hartford, produced some big saves to keep Athletic up. In the 71st minute, a great free kick from Miami’s Ariel Martinez resulted in a fantastic save by Jeff, energizing the team to see the game out. 

Luis Silva deserves big praise for today’s performance, as he was called upon to step into the head coach position due to Head Coach Harry Watling's absence. The team played with great energy, and as the game progressed, and the momentum shifted, Hartford looked calm with the ball, but with a level of urgency that allowed the boys to press well, win the ball in good areas, and thwart any Miami chances. To see the game out, Hartford switched from a back 4 to a back 5, a great tactical switch to sure up the back line and complete a professional display at home.

Athletic will head out on the road next Saturday, traveling to Highmark Stadium to face off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. You can catch the match on WCTX MyTV9, or stream at https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 12 (5) – 13 (4) Miami FC

Corners: Hartford Athletic 4-11 Miami FC

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 20-9 Miami FC

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 Miami FC

Possession: Hartford Athletic 40.7%-59.3% Miami FC

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 79.7%-84.0% Miami FC

Saves: Hartford Athletic 5-3 Miami FC

SCORING SUMMARY:

30' – Alex Lara (Danny Barrera) 1-0

67' – Conor McGlynn (Danny Barrera) 2-0

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

59' – Junior Palacios (Yellow)

82' – Adonijah Reid (Yellow)

90+4' – Robert Kcira (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 2 (DF) Alex Lara; 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 8 (MF) Christian Gómez (Nii Armah Ashitey, 77'); 21 (FW) Jeciel Cedeño (Conor McGlynn, 63'), 9 (FW) Sebastian Elney (Bradford Jamieson IV, 86'), 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

MIAMI FC STARTING LINEUP:

24 (GK) Connor Sparrow; 19 (DF) Janos Lobe (Sean McFarlane, 59'), 4 (DF) Callum Chapman-Page, 5 (DF) Paco Craig, 14 (DF) Baggio Kcrica; 18 (MF) Carlos Palacios (Billy Forbes, 75'), 30 (MF) Bolu Akinyode, 98 (MF) Pierre Da Silva (JahShaun Anglin, 38'); 9 (FW) Christiano Francois, 10 (FW) Ariel Martinez, 2 (FW) Othello Bah (Adonijah Reid, 75')

Alex Lara opened the scoring in the 30th minute and Connor McGlynn sealed the win with a composed long-range effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net and pushed Hartford to a 2-0 victory over Miami FC. Despite half chances from Miami in the second half, a fantastic performance from Jeff Caldwell assured a huge 2-0 win at home. With the victory, Hartford overtake Miami in the table, leaving Athletic in 3rd place with a big run of games coming their way.

The opening 15 minutes of the match saw Hartford possess comfortably with 60% possession. Danny had a crack from distance, forcing the Miami keeper to make a save. Despite a large spell of possession from Athletic, there were minimal chances from both teams. This pattern of possession for Hartford would not continue throughout the match, as Miami ended the night with 59% possession. Despite this shift in control of the ball, Hartford was dynamic in their press, forcing the opposition into meaningless possession where they couldn’t really threaten Athletic. The breakthrough would come in the 30th minute, as a rebound off Barrera’s freekick would be delivered to the back post by Danny. Lara, with his second career goal, was in a great spot, waiting for the second ball inside the 6-yard box.

As the second half unfolded, Athletic was comfortable letting Miami dictate possession, forcing them into half chances and long-range efforts. Although Miami out possessed Hartford in the second half, the press from Athletic was superb. The midfield and offense were moving in unison, forcing turnovers in key areas of the field, and especially high up the pitch. None as important as the turnover by Barrera, resulting in a cheeky ball roll back to McGlynn, who calmly passed it into the bottom left corner. Jeff Caldwell, who is already coming off some stellar performances for Hartford, produced some big saves to keep Athletic up. In the 71st minute, a great free kick from Miami’s Ariel Martinez resulted in a fantastic save by Jeff, energizing the team to see the game out. 

Luis Silva deserves big praise for today’s performance, as he was called upon to step into the head coach position due to Head Coach Harry Watling’s absence. The team played with great energy, and as the game progressed, and the momentum shifted, Hartford looked calm with the ball, but with a level of urgency that allowed the boys to press well, win the ball in good areas, and thwart any Miami chances. To see the game out, Hartford switched from a back 4 to a back 5, a great tactical switch to sure up the back line and complete a professional display at home.

Athletic will head out on the road next Saturday, traveling to Highmark Stadium to face off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. You can catch the match on WCTX MyTV9, or stream at https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 12 (5) – 13 (4) Miami FC

Corners: Hartford Athletic 4-11 Miami FC

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 20-9 Miami FC

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 Miami FC

Possession: Hartford Athletic 40.7%-59.3% Miami FC

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 79.7%-84.0% Miami FC

Saves: Hartford Athletic 5-3 Miami FC

SCORING SUMMARY:

30′ – Alex Lara (Danny Barrera) 1-0

67′ – Conor McGlynn (Danny Barrera) 2-0

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

59′ – Junior Palacios (Yellow)

82′ – Adonijah Reid (Yellow)

90+4′ – Robert Kcira (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 2 (DF) Alex Lara; 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 8 (MF) Christian Gómez (Nii Armah Ashitey, 77′); 21 (FW) Jeciel Cedeño (Conor McGlynn, 63′), 9 (FW) Sebastian Elney (Bradford Jamieson IV, 86′), 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

MIAMI FC STARTING LINEUP:

24 (GK) Connor Sparrow; 19 (DF) Janos Lobe (Sean McFarlane, 59′), 4 (DF) Callum Chapman-Page, 5 (DF) Paco Craig, 14 (DF) Baggio Kcrica; 18 (MF) Carlos Palacios (Billy Forbes, 75′), 30 (MF) Bolu Akinyode, 98 (MF) Pierre Da Silva (JahShaun Anglin, 38′); 9 (FW) Christiano Francois, 10 (FW) Ariel Martinez, 2 (FW) Othello Bah (Adonijah Reid, 75′)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (6-3-2) vs MIAMI FC (7-5-2)

Date: Saturday, July 24th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/39WRqgp

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

It was a tough night for Athletic, as they conceded three goals for just the second time this season against Charleston Battery at Patriot’s Point on Saturday night. A late game push wasn't quite enough as the hosts were deserved winners with goals from Romario Piggott, Claudio Repetto, and Nicque Daley sealing the three points.

CRUNCH TIME:

Hartford is 1/3 of the way through the current season, and are currently sitting in 4th in the Eastern Atlantic Division on 20 points with matches in hand. The next 5 fixtures for Athletic include Miami FC twice, who currently sit third on 23 points, Pittsburgh who are on 24 points, and Colorado Springs, who despite sitting 5th in the Western division, boast the league’s top scorer in Hadji Barry, who recorded the fastest goal Hartford has ever conceded in their history, as well as a hat trick against Athletic in 2019. Garnering positive results from this stretch of games will be a fantastic indicator as to the progress and potential this team has going into the rest of the season.

MIDFIELD MAESTROS:

Hartford and Miami go into this game represented by a pair of veteran players who, despite their age, are at the peak of their powers. In 11 starts this season, Danny Barrera has 9 goal contributions for Athletic, while Ariel Martinez has 6 goal contributions in 9 starts for Miami FC. Barrera, aged 35, is the captain of Hartford, and leads from the midfield consistently, with a team-high 27 chances created this season. Martinez, aged 31, leads from the front as Miami’s top scorer. The result of Saturday’s match will depend heavily on the impact of these two seasoned professionals.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (6-3-2) vs MIAMI FC (7-5-2)

Date: Saturday, July 24th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/39WRqgp

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

It was a tough night for Athletic, as they conceded three goals for just the second time this season against Charleston Battery at Patriot’s Point on Saturday night. A late game push wasn’t quite enough as the hosts were deserved winners with goals from Romario Piggott, Claudio Repetto, and Nicque Daley sealing the three points.

CRUNCH TIME:

Hartford is 1/3 of the way through the current season, and are currently sitting in 4th in the Eastern Atlantic Division on 20 points with matches in hand. The next 5 fixtures for Athletic include Miami FC twice, who currently sit third on 23 points, Pittsburgh who are on 24 points, and Colorado Springs, who despite sitting 5th in the Western division, boast the league’s top scorer in Hadji Barry, who recorded the fastest goal Hartford has ever conceded in their history, as well as a hat trick against Athletic in 2019. Garnering positive results from this stretch of games will be a fantastic indicator as to the progress and potential this team has going into the rest of the season.

MIDFIELD MAESTROS:

Hartford and Miami go into this game represented by a pair of veteran players who, despite their age, are at the peak of their powers. In 11 starts this season, Danny Barrera has 9 goal contributions for Athletic, while Ariel Martinez has 6 goal contributions in 9 starts for Miami FC. Barrera, aged 35, is the captain of Hartford, and leads from the midfield consistently, with a team-high 27 chances created this season. Martinez, aged 31, leads from the front as Miami’s top scorer. The result of Saturday’s match will depend heavily on the impact of these two seasoned professionals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

Following a tough 3-1 loss to Charleston, Hartford will be looking to Barrera for experience and leadership to re-focus and get a result at home. With 9 goal contributions in 11 starts this season,  the Hartford Captain is the engine of an attack that has scored just one goal in each of its last two matches. To get the offense back on track, it's Barrera who needs to right the ship.

Miami FC, Ariel Martinez, FW #10

If Miami want to get any result at Dillon, then they will need their 31-year-old forward, Ariel Martinez. With 2 goals and an assist in his last two games, he will be looking to continue his red-hot form on the road. Martinez has been deployed as a center midfielder, left midfielder attacking midfielder, and center forward. This versatility on the pitch will need to be watched by Athletic to stifle their attacked on Saturday. 

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Luka Prpa (foot); Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (International Duty), Walmer Martinez (International Duty)

Questionable: Bradford Jamieson IV (Hamstring), Gabi Torres (Hamstring)

Miami FC:

Out: Speedy Williams (International Duty), Lamar Walker (International Duty)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Miami FC arrive in Hartford currently on a five-match unbeaten run, in which time they have scored 11 goals while only conceding 5 goals. This run has included two key victories over Florida rivals, Tampa Bay Rowdies, as well as a resounding victory over Loudoun United in Virginia. Athletic will need to be wary of Miami’s dangerous number 10, Ariel Martinez, who has 2 goals and an assist in his last two games            

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvMIA    

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

Following a tough 3-1 loss to Charleston, Hartford will be looking to Barrera for experience and leadership to re-focus and get a result at home. With 9 goal contributions in 11 starts this season,  the Hartford Captain is the engine of an attack that has scored just one goal in each of its last two matches. To get the offense back on track, it’s Barrera who needs to right the ship.

Miami FC, Ariel Martinez, FW #10

If Miami want to get any result at Dillon, then they will need their 31-year-old forward, Ariel Martinez. With 2 goals and an assist in his last two games, he will be looking to continue his red-hot form on the road. Martinez has been deployed as a center midfielder, left midfielder attacking midfielder, and center forward. This versatility on the pitch will need to be watched by Athletic to stifle their attacked on Saturday. 

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Luka Prpa (foot); Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (International Duty), Walmer Martinez (International Duty)

Questionable: Bradford Jamieson IV (Hamstring), Gabi Torres (Hamstring)

Miami FC:

Out: Speedy Williams (International Duty), Lamar Walker (International Duty)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Miami FC arrive in Hartford currently on a five-match unbeaten run, in which time they have scored 11 goals while only conceding 5 goals. This run has included two key victories over Florida rivals, Tampa Bay Rowdies, as well as a resounding victory over Loudoun United in Virginia. Athletic will need to be wary of Miami’s dangerous number 10, Ariel Martinez, who has 2 goals and an assist in his last two games            

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Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvMIA