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Hartford Athletic miraculously came back from the brink of defeat to tie things up 2-2 and escape Dillon Stadium with a crucial point.

In this contest, the Red Bulls II came out firing early, resulting in a goal scored by Forward Omar Sowe in just the 4th minute.  After receiving a pass, Sowe swiftly dribbled down the right sideline firing a shot at Hartford Athletic Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell, who made the save but Sowe was able to follow up on a rebound that he calmly put in the back of the net.

The possession was not in Hartford’s favor for a large portion of the first half, and not long after a second goal was tallied for the Red Bulls II on a strike from Matthew Acosta in the 18th minute.  It was the first time all season that Hartford Athletic trailed by more than one goal.

Harry Watling and company needed to regroup fast if they wanted to mount a comeback.

To spark some new energy on the pitch, Watling subbed in forward Derek Dodson at the 42 minute mark.  The 2021 MLS Super Draft 1st round pick is on loan from MLS side Orlando City SC and made his much anticipated team debut with the green and blue. 

For much of the second half, the game was very chippy.  Both sides were very physical and assessed numerous yellow cards for foul play.  The most significant of all occurred in the 83’, when defender Emir Tombul was sent off after a second yellow card for committing a dangerous slide tackle on Hartford Athletic Forward Jeciel Cedeño.  With the Red Bulls II undermanned for the rest of the match, Hartford turned on the attack.

After a lightning quick run down the left sideline, Forward Preston Tabort Etaka crossed in a beautiful ball to the newcomer Dodson, putting the ball in the back of the net to put Hartford down by just one goal.

Little time remained on the clock, and Hartford needed some late game magic to tie things up at two apiece.  All 11 for the Athletic emptied their tanks and created many chances.  In the 92’, a rebound came rolling out to Defender Thomas Janjigian right around the 18’.  After taking a touch to his left foot, Janjigian rocketed a shot off the crossbar and in past the goalie Marcucci.  The 5,000 plus fans at Dillon erupted in exuberance as Hartford got their equalizer.  The goal was Janjigian’s second goal as a professional, and marked the first time he hit the back of the net since 2019.

The intensity for Hartford really picked up in the waning stages of the match, valiantly roaring back from the jaws of defeat to secure a point in the USL Championships Eastern Atlantic Conference.  Watling and company now have a big week ahead of them, with a road match on Tuesday July 13 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and a matchup with the Charleston Battery on Saturday July 17. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 14 (4) – 18 (11) New York

Corners: Hartford Athletic 6-3 New York

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 16-10 New York

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 New York

Possession: Hartford Athletic 54.2%-45.8% New York

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 71.2%73.3% New York

Saves: Hartford Athletic 9-2 New York

SCORING SUMMARY:

4' – Omar Sowe 0-1

18' – Matty Acosta (Cameron Harper) 0-2

86' – Derek Dodson (Preston Tabort Etaka) 1-2

90+2' – Thomas Janjigian (Christian Gómez) 2-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

24' – Cameron Harper (Yellow)

36' – Danny Barrera (Yellow)

39' – Kyle Zajec (Yellow)

58' – Conor McGlynn (Yellow)

59' – Tulu (Yellow)

61' – Emir Tombul (Yellow)

76' – Arthur Rogers (Yellow)

82' – Emir Tomubl (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian; 3 (MF) Younes Boudadi, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Nii Armah Ashitey, 63'), 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (Christian Gómez, 63'), 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers (Jeciel Cedeño, 79'), 22 (MF) Richie Schlentz (Derek Dodson, 42'); 9 (FW) Sebastian Elney, 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

NEW YORK RED BULLS II STARTING LINEUP:

40 (GK) AJ Marcucci; 24 (DF) Jason Pendant, 30 (DF) Emir Tombul, 85 (DF) Joey Zalinsky, 63 (DF) Matty Acosta; 51 (MF) Kyle Zajec, 75 (MF) Danny Edelman, 36 (MF) Jeremy Rafanello (Jake LaCava, 76'), 17 (MF) Cameron Harper (Juan Castillo, 86'); 71 (FW) Austin Brummett (Nicolas Nee, 76'), 67 (FW) Omar Sowe (Serge Ngoma, 72')

Hartford Athletic miraculously came back from the brink of defeat to tie things up 2-2 and escape Dillon Stadium with a crucial point.

In this contest, the Red Bulls II came out firing early, resulting in a goal scored by Forward Omar Sowe in just the 4th minute.  After receiving a pass, Sowe swiftly dribbled down the right sideline firing a shot at Hartford Athletic Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell, who made the save but Sowe was able to follow up on a rebound that he calmly put in the back of the net.

The possession was not in Hartford’s favor for a large portion of the first half, and not long after a second goal was tallied for the Red Bulls II on a strike from Matthew Acosta in the 18th minute.  It was the first time all season that Hartford Athletic trailed by more than one goal.

Harry Watling and company needed to regroup fast if they wanted to mount a comeback.

To spark some new energy on the pitch, Watling subbed in forward Derek Dodson at the 42 minute mark.  The 2021 MLS Super Draft 1st round pick is on loan from MLS side Orlando City SC and made his much anticipated team debut with the green and blue. 

For much of the second half, the game was very chippy.  Both sides were very physical and assessed numerous yellow cards for foul play.  The most significant of all occurred in the 83’, when defender Emir Tombul was sent off after a second yellow card for committing a dangerous slide tackle on Hartford Athletic Forward Jeciel Cedeño.  With the Red Bulls II undermanned for the rest of the match, Hartford turned on the attack.

After a lightning quick run down the left sideline, Forward Preston Tabort Etaka crossed in a beautiful ball to the newcomer Dodson, putting the ball in the back of the net to put Hartford down by just one goal.

Little time remained on the clock, and Hartford needed some late game magic to tie things up at two apiece.  All 11 for the Athletic emptied their tanks and created many chances.  In the 92’, a rebound came rolling out to Defender Thomas Janjigian right around the 18’.  After taking a touch to his left foot, Janjigian rocketed a shot off the crossbar and in past the goalie Marcucci.  The 5,000 plus fans at Dillon erupted in exuberance as Hartford got their equalizer.  The goal was Janjigian’s second goal as a professional, and marked the first time he hit the back of the net since 2019.

The intensity for Hartford really picked up in the waning stages of the match, valiantly roaring back from the jaws of defeat to secure a point in the USL Championships Eastern Atlantic Conference.  Watling and company now have a big week ahead of them, with a road match on Tuesday July 13 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and a matchup with the Charleston Battery on Saturday July 17. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 14 (4) – 18 (11) New York

Corners: Hartford Athletic 6-3 New York

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 16-10 New York

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-1 New York

Possession: Hartford Athletic 54.2%-45.8% New York

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 71.2%73.3% New York

Saves: Hartford Athletic 9-2 New York

SCORING SUMMARY:

4′ – Omar Sowe 0-1

18′ – Matty Acosta (Cameron Harper) 0-2

86′ – Derek Dodson (Preston Tabort Etaka) 1-2

90+2′ – Thomas Janjigian (Christian Gómez) 2-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

24′ – Cameron Harper (Yellow)

36′ – Danny Barrera (Yellow)

39′ – Kyle Zajec (Yellow)

58′ – Conor McGlynn (Yellow)

59′ – Tulu (Yellow)

61′ – Emir Tombul (Yellow)

76′ – Arthur Rogers (Yellow)

82′ – Emir Tomubl (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian; 3 (MF) Younes Boudadi, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Nii Armah Ashitey, 63′), 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (Christian Gómez, 63′), 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers (Jeciel Cedeño, 79′), 22 (MF) Richie Schlentz (Derek Dodson, 42′); 9 (FW) Sebastian Elney, 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

NEW YORK RED BULLS II STARTING LINEUP:

40 (GK) AJ Marcucci; 24 (DF) Jason Pendant, 30 (DF) Emir Tombul, 85 (DF) Joey Zalinsky, 63 (DF) Matty Acosta; 51 (MF) Kyle Zajec, 75 (MF) Danny Edelman, 36 (MF) Jeremy Rafanello (Jake LaCava, 76′), 17 (MF) Cameron Harper (Juan Castillo, 86′); 71 (FW) Austin Brummett (Nicolas Nee, 76′), 67 (FW) Omar Sowe (Serge Ngoma, 72′)

Hartford Athletic announced today that forward Derek Dodson has joined the club on loan from Orlando City SC pending league and federation approval. Dodson will be available for selection Saturday night. 

Taken by Orlando with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Dodson made his name known with Georgetown University, scoring 32 goals in 72 appearances, including a goal in Georgetown’s run to the 2019 NCAA National Championship title. Derek is no stranger to individual awards as well, being a three-year First Team Big East selection, as well as the 2017 Big East Freshman of the Year.  

"We are excited to bring Derek as a part of the family. It is a huge sign of respect from Orlando City to trust us with his development via a loan," said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. " Derek is an exciting player who will bolster our attacking talent and bring goals to the team."

Originally from Aurora, Illinois, the former Georgetown captain has multiple traits that will help Athletic in front of goal. During his time in Washington DC, Derek’s positional awareness and composure in front of goal were just two of his most impressive traits. Dodson’s goal-scoring prowess will further bolster the most talented forward line in Hartford Athletic history who will be without Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. and Walmer Martinez as they compete with their national teams in the Olympics and Gold Cup respectively. 

Hartford Athletic returns home to Dillon Stadium on Saturday night, July 10th, at 7 PM against New York Red Bulls II. For tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single.  

Hartford Athletic announced today that forward Derek Dodson has joined the club on loan from Orlando City SC pending league and federation approval. Dodson will be available for selection Saturday night. 

Taken by Orlando with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Dodson made his name known with Georgetown University, scoring 32 goals in 72 appearances, including a goal in Georgetown’s run to the 2019 NCAA National Championship title. Derek is no stranger to individual awards as well, being a three-year First Team Big East selection, as well as the 2017 Big East Freshman of the Year.  

“We are excited to bring Derek as a part of the family. It is a huge sign of respect from Orlando City to trust us with his development via a loan,” said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. ” Derek is an exciting player who will bolster our attacking talent and bring goals to the team.”

Originally from Aurora, Illinois, the former Georgetown captain has multiple traits that will help Athletic in front of goal. During his time in Washington DC, Derek’s positional awareness and composure in front of goal were just two of his most impressive traits. Dodson’s goal-scoring prowess will further bolster the most talented forward line in Hartford Athletic history who will be without Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. and Walmer Martinez as they compete with their national teams in the Olympics and Gold Cup respectively. 

Hartford Athletic returns home to Dillon Stadium on Saturday night, July 10th, at 7 PM against New York Red Bulls II. For tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single.  

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-2-1) vs NEW YORK RED BULLS II (3-6-3)

Date: Saturday, July 10th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3mtFKH3

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

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

International Viewers: YouTube

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-2-1) vs NEW YORK RED BULLS II (3-6-3)

Date: Saturday, July 10th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3mtFKH3

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

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

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

There were fireworks for Hartford Athletic on this past July 4th weekend in Virginia, as Athletic put in a professional display to see off Loudoun United 2-0. Goals from Arthur Rogers and Preston Tabort Etaka in a nine-minute stretch sealed the three points for Athletic, while Jeff Caldwell’s expertly-saved penalty in the 57th minute proved once again that Athletic have one of the best keepers in the league.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS:

Jeff Caldwell’s penalty save against Jovanny Bolivar was not only crucial for sealing the three points for Athletic, it was Jeff’s second spot-kick save of the season. The number one for Hartford has been a crux figure in the defensive unit, as Hartford have conceded two or more goals on just two occasions this year (April 30 v Red Bulls & June 13 v Charlotte). Having conceded the same amount of goals as league-leaders Tampa Bay (8), Caldwell and the rest of this brave back line will yet again be the focal point for any success that Hartford have this weekend.

BUENA SUERTE JC!

After scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over the United States back in March, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. has received a call-up to the Honduras squad for the Olympic Games in Tokyo! The dynamic striker, who has scored 4 goals through 8 matches for Athletic this season, has said that the call “…was a dream come true.” Honduras will compete in Group B with New Zealand, South Korea and Romania. Honduras will play their first match against Romania on July 22nd at 7 AM.

FROM THE GAFFER:

LAST TIME OUT:

There were fireworks for Hartford Athletic on this past July 4th weekend in Virginia, as Athletic put in a professional display to see off Loudoun United 2-0. Goals from Arthur Rogers and Preston Tabort Etaka in a nine-minute stretch sealed the three points for Athletic, while Jeff Caldwell’s expertly-saved penalty in the 57th minute proved once again that Athletic have one of the best keepers in the league.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS:

Jeff Caldwell’s penalty save against Jovanny Bolivar was not only crucial for sealing the three points for Athletic, it was Jeff’s second spot-kick save of the season. The number one for Hartford has been a crux figure in the defensive unit, as Hartford have conceded two or more goals on just two occasions this year (April 30 v Red Bulls & June 13 v Charlotte). Having conceded the same amount of goals as league-leaders Tampa Bay (8), Caldwell and the rest of this brave back line will yet again be the focal point for any success that Hartford have this weekend.

BUENA SUERTE JC!

After scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over the United States back in March, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. has received a call-up to the Honduras squad for the Olympic Games in Tokyo! The dynamic striker, who has scored 4 goals through 8 matches for Athletic this season, has said that the call “…was a dream come true.” Honduras will compete in Group B with New Zealand, South Korea and Romania. Honduras will play their first match against Romania on July 22nd at 7 AM.

FROM THE GAFFER:

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Arthur Rogers, MF #6

It was a memorable Sunday night for Arthur Rogers, who bagged the opening goal and put on a masterful performance in a tough fixture against Loudoun United FC. With a pass success rate of 80 percent, 4 duels won, 3 recoveries, 1 key pass, and 1 goal against Loudoun, Arthur will be looking to put on another show in midfield on Saturday, against a side that he has already scored on this season.

New York Red Bulls II, Jake LaCava, MF #64

Despite appearing for only one minute against Hartford the last edition of this fixture, LaCava has arguably been the standout for Red Bulls II. With 15 chances created through 11 matches this season, LaCava has truly found form on the left-hand side of midfield. With a goal and an assist in his last two matches, Hartford’s right side will be keeping a watchful eye over the in-form 20-year-old.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

The last time that Red Bulls II made the trip to Dillon, it was a night to remember for Hartford fans. Since that dominant 7-0 result for Hartford however, the Baby Bulls have found some form; they’ve taken 7 points from their last four matches, including a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh where they nearly stole a point, two wins over Charlotte Independence, and a draw with Miami FC. Hartford will know that it is tough to beat an opponent three times in a season, especially when the visitors are picking up form, but will remain optimistic given their recent record with Red Bulls II.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Bradford Jamieson IV (Hamstring), Luka Prpa (Foot)

Questionable: Gabriel Torres (Hamstring)

New York Red Bulls II:

Out: Curtis Ofori

Questionable: Michael Knapp

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvNY

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Arthur Rogers, MF #6

It was a memorable Sunday night for Arthur Rogers, who bagged the opening goal and put on a masterful performance in a tough fixture against Loudoun United FC. With a pass success rate of 80 percent, 4 duels won, 3 recoveries, 1 key pass, and 1 goal against Loudoun, Arthur will be looking to put on another show in midfield on Saturday, against a side that he has already scored on this season.

New York Red Bulls II, Jake LaCava, MF #64

Despite appearing for only one minute against Hartford the last edition of this fixture, LaCava has arguably been the standout for Red Bulls II. With 15 chances created through 11 matches this season, LaCava has truly found form on the left-hand side of midfield. With a goal and an assist in his last two matches, Hartford’s right side will be keeping a watchful eye over the in-form 20-year-old.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

The last time that Red Bulls II made the trip to Dillon, it was a night to remember for Hartford fans. Since that dominant 7-0 result for Hartford however, the Baby Bulls have found some form; they’ve taken 7 points from their last four matches, including a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh where they nearly stole a point, two wins over Charlotte Independence, and a draw with Miami FC. Hartford will know that it is tough to beat an opponent three times in a season, especially when the visitors are picking up form, but will remain optimistic given their recent record with Red Bulls II.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Bradford Jamieson IV (Hamstring), Luka Prpa (Foot)

Questionable: Gabriel Torres (Hamstring)

New York Red Bulls II:

Out: Curtis Ofori

Questionable: Michael Knapp

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvNY

The USL Championship announced on Thursday the five nominees for the USL Championship Player of the Month award for June, with top performers from second full month of the 2021 regular season selected for the ballot. 

Voting in the Championship Player of the Month Award will be conducted by the following three voting bodies:  

• A fan vote on USLChampionship.com will comprise 51 percent of the poll. The fan vote will run through Monday, July 12 at 12 p.m. ET. 

• The USL Technical Committee’s ballots comprise 25 percent of the poll.  

• The USL National Media Panel’s ballots comprise 24 percent of the poll. 

The award winner and complete voting results will be announced on Thursday, July 15. 

USL Championship Player of the Month – June 2021 

Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Hadji Barry recorded a goal in all five of Colorado Springs’ contests, finishing with seven goals and three assists overall as he moved into the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. 

Ronaldo Damus, Orange County SC – Ronaldo Damus scored in all five of Orange County’s contests in the month, notching six goals and one assist prior to being selected by Haiti for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup that kicks off this weekend. 

***Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic – Danny Barrera recorded three goals and three assists in four games for Hartford as the club maintained its positive start to the season, while also completing 78 percent of his passes and making 23 recoveries defensively. 

Rodrigo da Costa, FC Tulsa – Rodrigo da Costa recorded four goals and two assists in five games for Tulsa to help keep the side solidly in the playoff positions in the Central Division, while also recording eight key passes and making 23 recoveries. 

Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – Cameron Lancaster recorded four goals in three games, averaging a goal every 34.8 minutes while also winning 10 of 17 duels as LouCity won three of its five games in the month. 

The USL Championship announced on Thursday the five nominees for the USL Championship Player of the Month award for June, with top performers from second full month of the 2021 regular season selected for the ballot. 

Voting in the Championship Player of the Month Award will be conducted by the following three voting bodies:  

• A fan vote on USLChampionship.com will comprise 51 percent of the poll. The fan vote will run through Monday, July 12 at 12 p.m. ET. 

• The USL Technical Committee’s ballots comprise 25 percent of the poll.  

• The USL National Media Panel’s ballots comprise 24 percent of the poll. 

The award winner and complete voting results will be announced on Thursday, July 15. 

USL Championship Player of the Month – June 2021 

Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Hadji Barry recorded a goal in all five of Colorado Springs’ contests, finishing with seven goals and three assists overall as he moved into the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. 

Ronaldo Damus, Orange County SC – Ronaldo Damus scored in all five of Orange County’s contests in the month, notching six goals and one assist prior to being selected by Haiti for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup that kicks off this weekend. 

***Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic – Danny Barrera recorded three goals and three assists in four games for Hartford as the club maintained its positive start to the season, while also completing 78 percent of his passes and making 23 recoveries defensively. 

Rodrigo da Costa, FC Tulsa – Rodrigo da Costa recorded four goals and two assists in five games for Tulsa to help keep the side solidly in the playoff positions in the Central Division, while also recording eight key passes and making 23 recoveries. 

Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – Cameron Lancaster recorded four goals in three games, averaging a goal every 34.8 minutes while also winning 10 of 17 duels as LouCity won three of its five games in the month. 

Hartford put in a professional and clinical performance on this holiday weekend, as goals from Arthur Rogers and Preston Tabort Etaka in a nine-minute stretch sealed the three points for Athletic. Down the other end of the field, it was Jeff Caldwell who once again was Hartford’s hero, expertly saving Jovanny Bolivar’s 57th minute penalty.

The first half was rather cagey, with Loudoun having the better of the chances and more of the ball. It was only four minutes into the game that Loudoun almost took the lead, as Jeff Caldwell was put under pressure on his own goal line and narrowly avoided conceding a calamitous opening goal. A few minutes later, it was Giovanni Montesdeoca who attempted an audacious effort from 35 yards out, with his lobbed effort sailing just over the bar, much to the relief of Caldwell. It was sturdy and brave defending from Athletic, with Thomas Janjigian and Alex Lara making the most notable contributions to keep Loudoun at bay. 

The second half was an entirely different game to the first half, as it was an end-to-end affair right from the kick off. Sebastian Elney made his return to the side, coming on for Christian Gomez at half time, and immediately impacted Hartford’s play. Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. was unlucky not to score, as his glancing header unfortunately struck teammate Thomas Janjigian. It was only a few minutes later that Younes Boudadi conceded a penalty for a challenge just inside the box. While the call was rather harsh, Caldwell produced another extraordinary stop to keep the score level.

Caldwell’s save, combined with the introduction of Tabort Etaka from the bench, was the catalyst for a dominant second-half display from Hartford. Just five minutes after Preston was introduced, he picked up the ball and drove towards the Loudoun box. He played a wonderful reverse pass to an overlapping McGlynn, whose cutback found an unmarked Rogers six yards out. He finished with aplomb to break the deadlock. It was only nine minutes later that Preston added his name to the scoresheet. Sebastian Elney pounced on a mistake from the Loudoun backline, and played a lovely through ball to the onrushing Tabort Etaka. He did the rest, drilling a low finish past the Loudoun goalkeeper to double Athletic’s lead.

Another one of Preston’s weaving runs got him into the box again in the 81st minute, but his drilled effort was well-saved. Hartford thought they had a third when Tulu bundled Danny Barrera’s delivery over the line; however, it was chalked off for offside. While Loudoun midfielder Michael Gamble saw red for an off-the-ball incident with Boudadi, it was of little importance, as Hartford sealed the three points and a clean sheet to cap off the holiday weekend.

Athletic will welcome New York Red Bulls II back to Dillon Stadium at 7 PM next Saturday for their third meeting of this USL season.  For tickets, visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/tickets.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 12 (5) – 18 (3) Loudoun

Corners: Hartford Athletic 6-10 Loudoun

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 8-11 Loudoun

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 5-0 Loudoun

Possession: Hartford Athletic 41.6%-58.4% Loudoun

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 76%-82.7% Loudoun

Saves: Hartford Athletic 3-3 Loudoun

SCORING SUMMARY:

64' – Arthur Rogers (Conor McGlynn) 1-0

73' – Preston Tabort Etaka (Sebastian Elney) 2-0

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

44' – Christian Gómez (Yellow)

90' – Nicky Downs (Yellow)

90+2' – Tulu (Yellow)

90+2' – Michael Gamble (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian; 3 (MF) Younes Boudadi, 8 (MF) Christian Gómez (Sebastian Elney, 45'), 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Nii Armah Ashitey, 68'), 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers (Nico Cardona, 84'), 22 (MF) Richie Schlentz (Jeciel Cedeño, 85'); 10 (FW) Danny Barrera, 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Preston Tabort Etaka, 63')

LOUDOUN UNITED FC STARTING LINEUP:

99 (GK) Jermaine Fordah; 26 (DF) Owen Walz (Jacob Greene, 54'), 29 (DF) Timmy Mehl, 22 (DF) Robert Dambrot; 23 (MF) Diego Gomez, 21 (MF) Ted Ku-DiPietro (Jovanny Bolivar, 45'), 15 (MF) Nicky Downs, 6 (MF) Massimo Ferrin (Mathias Yohannes, 75'); 34 (FW) Abdellatif Aboukoura (Michael Gamble, 57'), 17 (FW) Kimarni Smith (Kairou Amoustapha, 45'), 12 (FW) Giovanni Montesdeoca

Hartford put in a professional and clinical performance on this holiday weekend, as goals from Arthur Rogers and Preston Tabort Etaka in a nine-minute stretch sealed the three points for Athletic. Down the other end of the field, it was Jeff Caldwell who once again was Hartford’s hero, expertly saving Jovanny Bolivar’s 57th minute penalty.

The first half was rather cagey, with Loudoun having the better of the chances and more of the ball. It was only four minutes into the game that Loudoun almost took the lead, as Jeff Caldwell was put under pressure on his own goal line and narrowly avoided conceding a calamitous opening goal. A few minutes later, it was Giovanni Montesdeoca who attempted an audacious effort from 35 yards out, with his lobbed effort sailing just over the bar, much to the relief of Caldwell. It was sturdy and brave defending from Athletic, with Thomas Janjigian and Alex Lara making the most notable contributions to keep Loudoun at bay. 

The second half was an entirely different game to the first half, as it was an end-to-end affair right from the kick off. Sebastian Elney made his return to the side, coming on for Christian Gomez at half time, and immediately impacted Hartford’s play. Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. was unlucky not to score, as his glancing header unfortunately struck teammate Thomas Janjigian. It was only a few minutes later that Younes Boudadi conceded a penalty for a challenge just inside the box. While the call was rather harsh, Caldwell produced another extraordinary stop to keep the score level.

Caldwell’s save, combined with the introduction of Tabort Etaka from the bench, was the catalyst for a dominant second-half display from Hartford. Just five minutes after Preston was introduced, he picked up the ball and drove towards the Loudoun box. He played a wonderful reverse pass to an overlapping McGlynn, whose cutback found an unmarked Rogers six yards out. He finished with aplomb to break the deadlock. It was only nine minutes later that Preston added his name to the scoresheet. Sebastian Elney pounced on a mistake from the Loudoun backline, and played a lovely through ball to the onrushing Tabort Etaka. He did the rest, drilling a low finish past the Loudoun goalkeeper to double Athletic’s lead.

Another one of Preston’s weaving runs got him into the box again in the 81st minute, but his drilled effort was well-saved. Hartford thought they had a third when Tulu bundled Danny Barrera’s delivery over the line; however, it was chalked off for offside. While Loudoun midfielder Michael Gamble saw red for an off-the-ball incident with Boudadi, it was of little importance, as Hartford sealed the three points and a clean sheet to cap off the holiday weekend.

Athletic will welcome New York Red Bulls II back to Dillon Stadium at 7 PM next Saturday for their third meeting of this USL season.  For tickets, visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/tickets.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 12 (5) – 18 (3) Loudoun

Corners: Hartford Athletic 6-10 Loudoun

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 8-11 Loudoun

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 5-0 Loudoun

Possession: Hartford Athletic 41.6%-58.4% Loudoun

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 76%-82.7% Loudoun

Saves: Hartford Athletic 3-3 Loudoun

SCORING SUMMARY:

64′ – Arthur Rogers (Conor McGlynn) 1-0

73′ – Preston Tabort Etaka (Sebastian Elney) 2-0

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

44′ – Christian Gómez (Yellow)

90′ – Nicky Downs (Yellow)

90+2′ – Tulu (Yellow)

90+2′ – Michael Gamble (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian; 3 (MF) Younes Boudadi, 8 (MF) Christian Gómez (Sebastian Elney, 45′), 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Nii Armah Ashitey, 68′), 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers (Nico Cardona, 84′), 22 (MF) Richie Schlentz (Jeciel Cedeño, 85′); 10 (FW) Danny Barrera, 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Preston Tabort Etaka, 63′)

LOUDOUN UNITED FC STARTING LINEUP:

99 (GK) Jermaine Fordah; 26 (DF) Owen Walz (Jacob Greene, 54′), 29 (DF) Timmy Mehl, 22 (DF) Robert Dambrot; 23 (MF) Diego Gomez, 21 (MF) Ted Ku-DiPietro (Jovanny Bolivar, 45′), 15 (MF) Nicky Downs, 6 (MF) Massimo Ferrin (Mathias Yohannes, 75′); 34 (FW) Abdellatif Aboukoura (Michael Gamble, 57′), 17 (FW) Kimarni Smith (Kairou Amoustapha, 45′), 12 (FW) Giovanni Montesdeoca

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-2-1) at LOUDOUN UNITED FC (2-7-0)

Date: Sunday, July 4th

Time: 5:00 PM ET

Location: Segra Field, Leesburg, VA

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

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

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT

It was a battle Saturday night for Athletic, who couldn’t convert their chances against a well-drilled Tampa Bay Rowdies side despite being the better side for the majority of the match. Sebastian Guenzatti’s 33rd minute opener was the only difference between the two sides. Rowdies’ keeper Evan Louro also produced a string of good saves to protect the three points for Tampa Bay, but Hartford went toe to toe with the defending Eastern Conference champions and will get them three more times this season.

ENGLISH EXCELLENCE:

While Arthur Rogers has only scored once so far this season, his all-around play is a joy to watch. One of the bright sparks of last match, Arthur created 4 chances and completed 3 dribbles; both of these stats were the most of any player in the match. Of the seven matches he has played in this season, Rogers has created 9 chances while completing 89 percent of his dribbles. Arthur’s presence in midfield will be crucial to Athletic’s chances of getting three points in Virginia, whether that be through goal contributions (1 goal in 2 career appearances versus Loudoun) or general midfield play.

REDISCOVER RUTHLESSNESS:

The story of last match revolved around Hartford's inability to convert, and perhaps misfortune, in front of the Rowdies’ goal. Athletic recorded 4 big chances in the match compared to Tampa Bay’s 2 big chances. Hartford also had 5 corners, which they were unable to convert into clear-cut chances. In the last match against Loudoun, Athletic had 7 corners, so rediscovering that clinical edge in front of goal, especially from set pieces, will be pivotal in picking up the three points.

FROM THE GAFFER:

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-2-1) at LOUDOUN UNITED FC (2-7-0)

Date: Sunday, July 4th

Time: 5:00 PM ET

Location: Segra Field, Leesburg, VA

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

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

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT

It was a battle Saturday night for Athletic, who couldn’t convert their chances against a well-drilled Tampa Bay Rowdies side despite being the better side for the majority of the match. Sebastian Guenzatti’s 33rd minute opener was the only difference between the two sides. Rowdies’ keeper Evan Louro also produced a string of good saves to protect the three points for Tampa Bay, but Hartford went toe to toe with the defending Eastern Conference champions and will get them three more times this season.

ENGLISH EXCELLENCE:

While Arthur Rogers has only scored once so far this season, his all-around play is a joy to watch. One of the bright sparks of last match, Arthur created 4 chances and completed 3 dribbles; both of these stats were the most of any player in the match. Of the seven matches he has played in this season, Rogers has created 9 chances while completing 89 percent of his dribbles. Arthur’s presence in midfield will be crucial to Athletic’s chances of getting three points in Virginia, whether that be through goal contributions (1 goal in 2 career appearances versus Loudoun) or general midfield play.

REDISCOVER RUTHLESSNESS:

The story of last match revolved around Hartford’s inability to convert, and perhaps misfortune, in front of the Rowdies’ goal. Athletic recorded 4 big chances in the match compared to Tampa Bay’s 2 big chances. Hartford also had 5 corners, which they were unable to convert into clear-cut chances. In the last match against Loudoun, Athletic had 7 corners, so rediscovering that clinical edge in front of goal, especially from set pieces, will be pivotal in picking up the three points.

FROM THE GAFFER:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hartford Athletic, Walid Yacoubou (Tulu), DF #15 

Despite the result of the last match, our number 15 added another solid performance at the heart of the Hartford defense. In the five matches that Tulu has played this season, Hartford have picked up 10 points from a possible 15 available, while conceding just three goals. In the last match, Tulu recorded a 90 percent passing success rate, while making 1 interception and 9 recoveries. His presence will be massive heading into a tricky away clash on this July 4th weekend. 

Loudoun United, Ted Ku-DiPetro, MF #21

One of the rising stars across the USL Championship, Theodore Ku-DiPetro is carving out quite the reputation with Loudoun. The 19-year-old has played every minute of every match for Loudoun to start the season, scoring his first goal of the season against Pittsburgh Riverhounds last match. While Ku-Dipetro is a technically gifted player, it is his versatility that will be a worry to Athletic, as he has played in a variety of different positions this season, including right-wing-back, central midfield, and in an attacking midfield (no.10) role. 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Many will remember the unusual circumstances that unfolded in our last match with Loudoun Untied, when Nico Cardona swept home a 96th minute winner after a delay due to severe thunderstorms. Yet again, Athletic will be wary of the dangers this Loudoun side poses. Jovanny Bolivar, who netted the equalizer for Loudoun on their visit to Dillon last month, scored the winner in Loudoun’s 2-1 home victory at home against second-place Pittsburgh. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #LDNvHFD

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hartford Athletic, Walid Yacoubou (Tulu), DF #15 

Despite the result of the last match, our number 15 added another solid performance at the heart of the Hartford defense. In the five matches that Tulu has played this season, Hartford have picked up 10 points from a possible 15 available, while conceding just three goals. In the last match, Tulu recorded a 90 percent passing success rate, while making 1 interception and 9 recoveries. His presence will be massive heading into a tricky away clash on this July 4th weekend. 

Loudoun United, Ted Ku-DiPetro, MF #21

One of the rising stars across the USL Championship, Theodore Ku-DiPetro is carving out quite the reputation with Loudoun. The 19-year-old has played every minute of every match for Loudoun to start the season, scoring his first goal of the season against Pittsburgh Riverhounds last match. While Ku-Dipetro is a technically gifted player, it is his versatility that will be a worry to Athletic, as he has played in a variety of different positions this season, including right-wing-back, central midfield, and in an attacking midfield (no.10) role. 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Many will remember the unusual circumstances that unfolded in our last match with Loudoun Untied, when Nico Cardona swept home a 96th minute winner after a delay due to severe thunderstorms. Yet again, Athletic will be wary of the dangers this Loudoun side poses. Jovanny Bolivar, who netted the equalizer for Loudoun on their visit to Dillon last month, scored the winner in Loudoun’s 2-1 home victory at home against second-place Pittsburgh. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow along on Twitter @hfdathletic and #LDNvHFD

New Faces From Across The Globe Come Together For An Exciting Season

NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

In the shortened 2020 campaign, Hartford Athletic certainly had the talent to win games, resulting in a fantastic record of eleven wins, three losses, and two draws, but came up short in their first ever playoff appearance.

With a busy offseason to reload, six players returned for the 2021 campaign with a new crop of players joining the fold.

As a result, fans were introduced to 16 new footballers determined to make an immediate impact with the squad.  The young and hungry roster mixes talent, with teamwork, experience, and high Football IQ.

In addition to the roster changes, the organization searched for its third head coach following the departure of Radhi Jaïdi. 

It was not long after Jaïdi's departure that Hartford found their man in Harry Watling to take over the helm.  Watling, 31, jumped at the opportunity to move to the US and take the reins of a new group hungry to achieve greatness. 

The Athletic have come out firing right out of the gates and are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. The scary part is, it seems like the team hasn’t even hit their stride yet while turning in impressive performances thus far. 

Let’s dive deeper and learn more about some of the Boys in Green and what they attribute to the team’s early triumphs.

Defender Younes Boudadi is one of the new signees for Hartford in 2021 and is originally from Ypres, Belgium.  At the young age of seven, he joined Club Brugges’ Academy, about an hour away from his hometown and remained there for 13 years.  He always knew he wanted to become a professional footballer but he didn’t hesitate saying that the sport took away from anything else he wanted to pursue as a child.  

“It was challenging in a way because soccer was everything that my life revolved around”, Boudadi said.  “It was a little harder to be away from home when I was young, but you learn a lot about [soccer] from a really young age too.  You sacrifice a lot but you reap the rewards later.”

In his short time with Hartford Athletic so far, Younes has noticed the team’s play on the pitch improve dramatically and sees a title run within range for the boys in green.  “The chemistry is great,” Boudadi said.  “Big props to the coaching staff because I think they have done a great job since day one to build a culture of winning.”

Younes also emphasized the special relationships between the players and the staff away from the pitch, stating, “Just getting to know everyone on a personal level.  It’s always great to meet  guys from different cultures and backgrounds.  I always try to not talk too much about football,  and even though it’s pretty early on in the season, I think people can tell that we are a close knit group and everyone is bought in.”

Goalkeeper Carlos Merancio is also a first year player for the Athletic and was born in Hermosillo, Mexico.  He started to play at the academy level at 12 years old.  At 14, Carlos played for Atlético Morelia academy, eventually skilled enough to play with their second team and train with the guys on the first level.  He then made his way up slightly north to play for FC Tucson in USL League One for two years, often alternating the starting role.  

Moving somewhere across the US can be a daunting task, especially for someone like Carlos who is still learning to improve his English, but he was excited for the opportunity to be a part of an organization poised for a deep playoff run.

“I spoke with Luiz [Silva], who told me the project of the team, and I was so ambitious”, Merancio said.  “I then watched some [prior Hartford Athletic] games, and the stadium was always full, which is unusual in the USL.” … “I really wanted to come here.”

Now two months into the season, Merancio has seen developments in his game individually as well as the team’s growing ability to play as one.  To the latter, Carlos attributes weekly Sunday barbecues and flights to away games as events that tremendously help the players build relationships outside of football and enhance teamwork on the pitch in the process. 

The Athletic goalkeeper sees no limit to how far the team can advance in the USL playoffs and is locked in on winning a championship. “We are improving every day”, Merancio said. “Everyone supports each other and we are on the right way to build a great team.”

Midfielder Arthur Rogers is one of the six returning players from 2020 and hails from London, England.  Arthur was always kicking a ball around in his house but it wasn’t until he was eight years old when he started to play organized soccer, eventually signing with semi-professional club Hanwell Town as a teenager. 

The Green and Blue signed Arthur to his first professional contract after graduating college and straight away he was determined to make an impact.  

“I had several combines with different teams where people would get to see me play”, Rogers said.  “Fortunately, it was the first one I went to where (Technical Advisor) Paul Buckle saw me and said straight away that he wanted me [in Hartford].  That kind of feeling where I know he wanted me here meant a lot to me personally.”

In talking about the team’s great start to the season, Rogers praised the coaching staff for their outstanding leadership and intelligence in assembling this year’s squad.

“The recruitment staff really outdid themselves this year”, Rogers said.  “We were really successful last year and I was thinking, can we really top that?  And they have.  It’s very hard to bring in so many new faces and not have egos, and that’s something that we don’t have right now.  Coach Harry [Watling] is a top drawer coach as well, and he builds confidence and trust in the players to buy into his process.”

As an international player, Rogers sacrifices being away from his family for many months of the year, but loves playing for Hartford and cherishes the relationships he’s formed with his teammates.

“I’m so happy that we have such a great environment”, Rogers said.  “I love coming to work everyday.  I know I’m going to be challenged and the boys are going to push me.”

Hartford’s players live together in groups of three and get along like really close brothers.  

“They’re all like a little family”, Watling said.  “Danny [Barrera] is the big brother, Conor [McGlynn] is one of the younger brothers, Alfonso [Vazquez] is the youngest brother, Bradford [Jamieson IV] is one of the big brothers.”

Hartford has one of the loudest, most passionate fan bases in the USL and with a great squad on the pitch, it's no surprise the supporters pack Dillon Stadium for every home match to provide the best homefield advantage in the league.  So back to where we started: Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.  Watling and the Boys in Green look primed for a deep playoff run but will take it one match at a time.

News and Notes

– Forward Walmer Martinez will be absent from the team for the next three weeks as he competes with the El Salvador National Team in the Gold Cup.

– Forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. is representing the Honduras U-23 National Team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics following Sunday’s match against Loudoun United.  An estimated return to Hartford Athletic is late July-early August.

– Forward Bradford Jamieson IV will miss the upcoming match as he recovers from a hamstring injury as will Luka Prpa who continues to rehab a broken foot. Defender Gabi Torres will also miss the match due to a hamstring injury sustained in last Saturday's match. 

New Faces From Across The Globe Come Together For An Exciting Season

NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

In the shortened 2020 campaign, Hartford Athletic certainly had the talent to win games, resulting in a fantastic record of eleven wins, three losses, and two draws, but came up short in their first ever playoff appearance.

With a busy offseason to reload, six players returned for the 2021 campaign with a new crop of players joining the fold.

As a result, fans were introduced to 16 new footballers determined to make an immediate impact with the squad.  The young and hungry roster mixes talent, with teamwork, experience, and high Football IQ.

In addition to the roster changes, the organization searched for its third head coach following the departure of Radhi Jaïdi. 

It was not long after Jaïdi’s departure that Hartford found their man in Harry Watling to take over the helm.  Watling, 31, jumped at the opportunity to move to the US and take the reins of a new group hungry to achieve greatness. 

The Athletic have come out firing right out of the gates and are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. The scary part is, it seems like the team hasn’t even hit their stride yet while turning in impressive performances thus far. 

Let’s dive deeper and learn more about some of the Boys in Green and what they attribute to the team’s early triumphs.

Defender Younes Boudadi is one of the new signees for Hartford in 2021 and is originally from Ypres, Belgium.  At the young age of seven, he joined Club Brugges’ Academy, about an hour away from his hometown and remained there for 13 years.  He always knew he wanted to become a professional footballer but he didn’t hesitate saying that the sport took away from anything else he wanted to pursue as a child.  

“It was challenging in a way because soccer was everything that my life revolved around”, Boudadi said.  “It was a little harder to be away from home when I was young, but you learn a lot about [soccer] from a really young age too.  You sacrifice a lot but you reap the rewards later.”

In his short time with Hartford Athletic so far, Younes has noticed the team’s play on the pitch improve dramatically and sees a title run within range for the boys in green.  “The chemistry is great,” Boudadi said.  “Big props to the coaching staff because I think they have done a great job since day one to build a culture of winning.”

Younes also emphasized the special relationships between the players and the staff away from the pitch, stating, “Just getting to know everyone on a personal level.  It’s always great to meet  guys from different cultures and backgrounds.  I always try to not talk too much about football,  and even though it’s pretty early on in the season, I think people can tell that we are a close knit group and everyone is bought in.”

Goalkeeper Carlos Merancio is also a first year player for the Athletic and was born in Hermosillo, Mexico.  He started to play at the academy level at 12 years old.  At 14, Carlos played for Atlético Morelia academy, eventually skilled enough to play with their second team and train with the guys on the first level.  He then made his way up slightly north to play for FC Tucson in USL League One for two years, often alternating the starting role.  

Moving somewhere across the US can be a daunting task, especially for someone like Carlos who is still learning to improve his English, but he was excited for the opportunity to be a part of an organization poised for a deep playoff run.

“I spoke with Luiz [Silva], who told me the project of the team, and I was so ambitious”, Merancio said.  “I then watched some [prior Hartford Athletic] games, and the stadium was always full, which is unusual in the USL.” … “I really wanted to come here.”

Now two months into the season, Merancio has seen developments in his game individually as well as the team’s growing ability to play as one.  To the latter, Carlos attributes weekly Sunday barbecues and flights to away games as events that tremendously help the players build relationships outside of football and enhance teamwork on the pitch in the process. 

The Athletic goalkeeper sees no limit to how far the team can advance in the USL playoffs and is locked in on winning a championship. “We are improving every day”, Merancio said. “Everyone supports each other and we are on the right way to build a great team.”

Midfielder Arthur Rogers is one of the six returning players from 2020 and hails from London, England.  Arthur was always kicking a ball around in his house but it wasn’t until he was eight years old when he started to play organized soccer, eventually signing with semi-professional club Hanwell Town as a teenager. 

The Green and Blue signed Arthur to his first professional contract after graduating college and straight away he was determined to make an impact.  

“I had several combines with different teams where people would get to see me play”, Rogers said.  “Fortunately, it was the first one I went to where (Technical Advisor) Paul Buckle saw me and said straight away that he wanted me [in Hartford].  That kind of feeling where I know he wanted me here meant a lot to me personally.”

In talking about the team’s great start to the season, Rogers praised the coaching staff for their outstanding leadership and intelligence in assembling this year’s squad.

“The recruitment staff really outdid themselves this year”, Rogers said.  “We were really successful last year and I was thinking, can we really top that?  And they have.  It’s very hard to bring in so many new faces and not have egos, and that’s something that we don’t have right now.  Coach Harry [Watling] is a top drawer coach as well, and he builds confidence and trust in the players to buy into his process.”

As an international player, Rogers sacrifices being away from his family for many months of the year, but loves playing for Hartford and cherishes the relationships he’s formed with his teammates.

“I’m so happy that we have such a great environment”, Rogers said.  “I love coming to work everyday.  I know I’m going to be challenged and the boys are going to push me.”

Hartford’s players live together in groups of three and get along like really close brothers.  

“They’re all like a little family”, Watling said.  “Danny [Barrera] is the big brother, Conor [McGlynn] is one of the younger brothers, Alfonso [Vazquez] is the youngest brother, Bradford [Jamieson IV] is one of the big brothers.”

Hartford has one of the loudest, most passionate fan bases in the USL and with a great squad on the pitch, it’s no surprise the supporters pack Dillon Stadium for every home match to provide the best homefield advantage in the league.  So back to where we started: Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.  Watling and the Boys in Green look primed for a deep playoff run but will take it one match at a time.

News and Notes

– Forward Walmer Martinez will be absent from the team for the next three weeks as he competes with the El Salvador National Team in the Gold Cup.

– Forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. is representing the Honduras U-23 National Team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics following Sunday’s match against Loudoun United.  An estimated return to Hartford Athletic is late July-early August.

– Forward Bradford Jamieson IV will miss the upcoming match as he recovers from a hamstring injury as will Luka Prpa who continues to rehab a broken foot. Defender Gabi Torres will also miss the match due to a hamstring injury sustained in last Saturday’s match. 

Welcome back to 20 Questions, this week with Nicolás Cardona. Nico talks about his thrilling goal against Loudoun United FC, being named Captain of Puerto Rico's National Team, and more!

1) So we have to start with the Loudoun match. What went through your head in those last minutes?

NC: I remember when we had to go to the locker rooms before the game restarted that coach said everyone has to stay locked in and go and attack. Coach Jon (Stead) said that there would be one hero and that we have to trust each other and stay positive and the breakthrough would come. 

2) There was a really big lift in the spirit of the team after the delay. How inspiring or uplifting was Coach Watling’s team talk?

NC: It’s tough because that situation was so weird – I don’t think I’ve ever been in a match where it was stopped that late in the match! But absolutely – Coach did such a good job of keeping us focused to get the next goal. 

3) You were recently named captain of the Puerto Rican national team for World Cup qualifier against the Bahamas (congratulations!). How big of an honor was that for you leading the team out?

NC: It’s a feeling that you can’t describe – I’ve been watching the national team since I was a kid. When I was younger, I remember seeing the captains of the Puerto Rican national team, and I always said that I wanted to be the captain. However, there’s a lot of leaders in the squad, with or without the armband.

4) What is your dream for the Puerto Rican national team?

NC: My dream is to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. I think we can do it and I think we’ll do it in the next couple of years!

5) You are part of a very young Hartford squad, with an average age of about 23 years old. In such a young squad, how do you feel your experience as captain for Puerto Rico has helped the team?

NC: I think wherever I go, I try to help my teammates because we make each other better. As much of an honor it was to be named captain, being captain doesn’t change who I am – I just try to be myself.

6) You are part of the second-best defensive unit in the Eastern Atlantic Division of the USL Championship, with only 7 goals conceded through 6 matches. What do you think has been the secret to this success?

NC: It all comes from what we do during the week in training, and what coach has made us believe – stay tight, keep communicating, and put your body on the line for the team. 

7) As I’m sure you know, Hartford has a large Puerto Rican population. How big of a factor was that for you when signing for Hartford?

NC: Puerto Rico has always been a very important part of my career. I want to be an inspiration for the kids of Puerto Rico, so having that large community of Puerto Ricans in Hartford definitely helped my decision. I want to be more involved than I have been for this community, so hopefully I can take some of my time.

8) Who has the best taste in music on the team?

NC: Me, of course!

9) So since you are in charge of the music, what’s the best walk-out/pump-up song that you would pick?

NC: That’s tough – I think I would say La Mamá de la Mamá by El Alfa.

10) You can only have one dish per meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the rest of your life. What do you choose for each meal?

NC: Breakfast is easy: avocado toast! For lunch, I’d have to say rice beans and vegetables. Lastly, for dinner nice salad with tofu and almonds.

11) You’re building your ultimate player and have to choose the following parts: speed, strength, intelligence, vision, tackling, and stamina. Which player do you choose for each of these traits?

NC: Alright here is my player: for speed I’d choose Kylian Mbappe. Stamina I would obviously go with N’golo Kante. For vision I’d choose the great Xabi Alonso. For tackling, I’d go with Arturo Vidal. For strength, I’d choose Carles Puyol and for intelligence I’d choose Sergio Busquests.

12) Which is better: La Liga or the Premier League?

NC: I like La Liga more because I’m a Barcelona fan, but the Premier League is definitely the better league at the moment.

13) Who do you think will win La Liga next season?

NC: I think Barcelona will get back on track and win La Liga next season. The signings they’ve made so far have been a positive sign for the club.

14) Who are you rooting for at the EUROs?

NC: I’m watching Copa America a little more than the Euros, but if I had to choose a team, I’d say Spain. At the Copa America, I’m definitely supporting Argentina; I’m a huge Messi fan!

15) Which two teams would you like to see in the Copa America final?

NC: Argentina vs Brazil at the Maracanã would be the dream final.

16) What’s the better World Cup ball: Jabulani (2010 WC ball) or the Brazuca (2014 World Cup ball)?

NC: It has to be the Jabulani for sure!

17) Who has the best boots on the team?

NC: Soccer boots? I would say Danny Barrera because no one else has the boots that he has.

18) Who has the worst fashion sense in the squad?

NC: Ooh…I’m going to say Tulu (laughs). He came in wearing a t-shirt saying “bad times, good times” all over the shirt which was funny.

19) What is your favorite part about being in Hartford?

NC: I love Blue Back Square – just the area in general, there are a number of restaurants and bars, plus it’s nice to just walk around that area.

20) What’s the biggest thing you want to achieve with Hartford Athletic?

NC: Win the league of course! On a personal note, I would like to make a statement on the league. Specifically, I want the league to know that there are a lot of talented Puerto Rican players, both here and across the world. 

###

For our last interview with Nii Armah Ashitey, click here.

Welcome back to 20 Questions, this week with Nicolás Cardona. Nico talks about his thrilling goal against Loudoun United FC, being named Captain of Puerto Rico’s National Team, and more!

1) So we have to start with the Loudoun match. What went through your head in those last minutes?

NC: I remember when we had to go to the locker rooms before the game restarted that coach said everyone has to stay locked in and go and attack. Coach Jon (Stead) said that there would be one hero and that we have to trust each other and stay positive and the breakthrough would come. 

2) There was a really big lift in the spirit of the team after the delay. How inspiring or uplifting was Coach Watling’s team talk?

NC: It’s tough because that situation was so weird – I don’t think I’ve ever been in a match where it was stopped that late in the match! But absolutely – Coach did such a good job of keeping us focused to get the next goal. 

3) You were recently named captain of the Puerto Rican national team for World Cup qualifier against the Bahamas (congratulations!). How big of an honor was that for you leading the team out?

NC: It’s a feeling that you can’t describe – I’ve been watching the national team since I was a kid. When I was younger, I remember seeing the captains of the Puerto Rican national team, and I always said that I wanted to be the captain. However, there’s a lot of leaders in the squad, with or without the armband.

4) What is your dream for the Puerto Rican national team?

NC: My dream is to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. I think we can do it and I think we’ll do it in the next couple of years!

5) You are part of a very young Hartford squad, with an average age of about 23 years old. In such a young squad, how do you feel your experience as captain for Puerto Rico has helped the team?

NC: I think wherever I go, I try to help my teammates because we make each other better. As much of an honor it was to be named captain, being captain doesn’t change who I am – I just try to be myself.

6) You are part of the second-best defensive unit in the Eastern Atlantic Division of the USL Championship, with only 7 goals conceded through 6 matches. What do you think has been the secret to this success?

NC: It all comes from what we do during the week in training, and what coach has made us believe – stay tight, keep communicating, and put your body on the line for the team. 

7) As I’m sure you know, Hartford has a large Puerto Rican population. How big of a factor was that for you when signing for Hartford?

NC: Puerto Rico has always been a very important part of my career. I want to be an inspiration for the kids of Puerto Rico, so having that large community of Puerto Ricans in Hartford definitely helped my decision. I want to be more involved than I have been for this community, so hopefully I can take some of my time.

8) Who has the best taste in music on the team?

NC: Me, of course!

9) So since you are in charge of the music, what’s the best walk-out/pump-up song that you would pick?

NC: That’s tough – I think I would say La Mamá de la Mamá by El Alfa.

10) You can only have one dish per meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the rest of your life. What do you choose for each meal?

NC: Breakfast is easy: avocado toast! For lunch, I’d have to say rice beans and vegetables. Lastly, for dinner nice salad with tofu and almonds.

11) You’re building your ultimate player and have to choose the following parts: speed, strength, intelligence, vision, tackling, and stamina. Which player do you choose for each of these traits?

NC: Alright here is my player: for speed I’d choose Kylian Mbappe. Stamina I would obviously go with N’golo Kante. For vision I’d choose the great Xabi Alonso. For tackling, I’d go with Arturo Vidal. For strength, I’d choose Carles Puyol and for intelligence I’d choose Sergio Busquests.

12) Which is better: La Liga or the Premier League?

NC: I like La Liga more because I’m a Barcelona fan, but the Premier League is definitely the better league at the moment.

13) Who do you think will win La Liga next season?

NC: I think Barcelona will get back on track and win La Liga next season. The signings they’ve made so far have been a positive sign for the club.

14) Who are you rooting for at the EUROs?

NC: I’m watching Copa America a little more than the Euros, but if I had to choose a team, I’d say Spain. At the Copa America, I’m definitely supporting Argentina; I’m a huge Messi fan!

15) Which two teams would you like to see in the Copa America final?

NC: Argentina vs Brazil at the Maracanã would be the dream final.

16) What’s the better World Cup ball: Jabulani (2010 WC ball) or the Brazuca (2014 World Cup ball)?

NC: It has to be the Jabulani for sure!

17) Who has the best boots on the team?

NC: Soccer boots? I would say Danny Barrera because no one else has the boots that he has.

18) Who has the worst fashion sense in the squad?

NC: Ooh…I’m going to say Tulu (laughs). He came in wearing a t-shirt saying “bad times, good times” all over the shirt which was funny.

19) What is your favorite part about being in Hartford?

NC: I love Blue Back Square – just the area in general, there are a number of restaurants and bars, plus it’s nice to just walk around that area.

20) What’s the biggest thing you want to achieve with Hartford Athletic?

NC: Win the league of course! On a personal note, I would like to make a statement on the league. Specifically, I want the league to know that there are a lot of talented Puerto Rican players, both here and across the world. 

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For our last interview with Nii Armah Ashitey, click here.

Hartford Athletic battled to a hard luck 1-0 defeat against first place Tampa Bay Rowdies side in a match Athletic largely controlled. Sebastian Guenzatti’s 33rd minute opener was the only difference between the two sides, as Rowdies’ keeper Evan Louro produced a string of good saves to protect the three points for Tampa Bay.

An electric atmosphere was brewing in the build-up to this top of table clash. Within the first ten minutes, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. saw his shot saved by Louro after Arthur Rogers’ crafty pass found him open in the box. Tampa Bay eventually grew back into the game, with Tulu and Alex Lara called upon on different occasions to provide some top-class defending.

Hartford were forced into a substitution in the 27th minute, which saw star left-back Gabi Torres walk off injured and replaced by Nico Cardona. It was only four minutes later that a floated cross from former Athletic player, Sebastian Dalgaard, was not cleared properly by Hartford, and found Sebastian Guenzatti two yards out who poached home a finish for his 7th goal of the USL Championship season.

Hartford responded extremely well to this setback, with two massive chances for Juan Carlos Obregón saved by Evan Louro and cleared off the line by Guillen. Obregón continued to cause problems for the Tampa Bay backline, when he found Danny Barrera in acres of space on the right-hand side of the Rowdies’ box. Louro rushed out and Barrera lifted it over him, but also lifted it over the crossbar to end the half.

The half started in sublime fashion for Athletic, who won a penalty in the 55th minute when Younes Boudadi was bundled over just inside the area. Obregón stepped up to the spot, but uncharacteristically sent his effort over the crossbar. The Rowdies had a second goal ruled out for offside in the 65th minute, but Guenzatti’s opener was enough to see Tampa Bay run out of Dillon with the three points.

Athletic will look to return to winning ways when they face Loudoun United in Virginia on July 4th. Hartford Athletic returns home next on July 10th, and you can get your tickets here.

Hartford Athletic battled to a hard luck 1-0 defeat against first place Tampa Bay Rowdies side in a match Athletic largely controlled. Sebastian Guenzatti’s 33rd minute opener was the only difference between the two sides, as Rowdies’ keeper Evan Louro produced a string of good saves to protect the three points for Tampa Bay.

An electric atmosphere was brewing in the build-up to this top of table clash. Within the first ten minutes, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. saw his shot saved by Louro after Arthur Rogers’ crafty pass found him open in the box. Tampa Bay eventually grew back into the game, with Tulu and Alex Lara called upon on different occasions to provide some top-class defending.

Hartford were forced into a substitution in the 27th minute, which saw star left-back Gabi Torres walk off injured and replaced by Nico Cardona. It was only four minutes later that a floated cross from former Athletic player, Sebastian Dalgaard, was not cleared properly by Hartford, and found Sebastian Guenzatti two yards out who poached home a finish for his 7th goal of the USL Championship season.

Hartford responded extremely well to this setback, with two massive chances for Juan Carlos Obregón saved by Evan Louro and cleared off the line by Guillen. Obregón continued to cause problems for the Tampa Bay backline, when he found Danny Barrera in acres of space on the right-hand side of the Rowdies’ box. Louro rushed out and Barrera lifted it over him, but also lifted it over the crossbar to end the half.

The half started in sublime fashion for Athletic, who won a penalty in the 55th minute when Younes Boudadi was bundled over just inside the area. Obregón stepped up to the spot, but uncharacteristically sent his effort over the crossbar. The Rowdies had a second goal ruled out for offside in the 65th minute, but Guenzatti’s opener was enough to see Tampa Bay run out of Dillon with the three points.

Athletic will look to return to winning ways when they face Loudoun United in Virginia on July 4th. Hartford Athletic returns home next on July 10th, and you can get your tickets here.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 8 (4) – 10 (5) Tampa Bay

Corners: Hartford Athletic 5-2 Tampa Bay

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 17-12 Tampa Bay

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-3Tampa Bay

Possession: Hartford Athletic 62.9%-37.1% Tampa Bay

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 82.6%-73.9% Tampa Bay

Saves: Hartford Athletic 4-3 Tampa Bay

SCORING SUMMARY:

33’ – Sebastian Guenzatti 0-1

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

58’ – Lara (Yellow)

79’ – Fernandes (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 15 (DF) Tulu, 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 16 (DF) Gabriel Torres; 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers; 8 (FW) Christian Gomez, 18 (FW) Walmer Martinez, 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. 

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Evan Louro; 3 (DF) Forrest Lasso, 5 (DF) Jordan Scarlett, 33 (DF) Aarón Guillén, 4 (MF) Lewis Hilton, 8 (MF) Zachary Steinberger, 11 (MF) Leo Fernandes, 21 (MF) Dayonn Harris, 22 (MF) Jordan Doherty, 23 (MF) Sebastian Asmussen; 13 (FW) Sebastían Guenzatti

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford Athletic 8 (4) – 10 (5) Tampa Bay

Corners: Hartford Athletic 5-2 Tampa Bay

Fouls: Hartford Athletic 17-12 Tampa Bay

Offsides: Hartford Athletic 1-3Tampa Bay

Possession: Hartford Athletic 62.9%-37.1% Tampa Bay

Passing Accuracy: Hartford Athletic 82.6%-73.9% Tampa Bay

Saves: Hartford Athletic 4-3 Tampa Bay

SCORING SUMMARY:

33’ – Sebastian Guenzatti 0-1

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

58’ – Lara (Yellow)

79’ – Fernandes (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 15 (DF) Tulu, 2 (DF) Alex Lara, 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 16 (DF) Gabriel Torres; 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 6 (MF) Arthur Rogers; 8 (FW) Christian Gomez, 18 (FW) Walmer Martinez, 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. 

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Evan Louro; 3 (DF) Forrest Lasso, 5 (DF) Jordan Scarlett, 33 (DF) Aarón Guillén, 4 (MF) Lewis Hilton, 8 (MF) Zachary Steinberger, 11 (MF) Leo Fernandes, 21 (MF) Dayonn Harris, 22 (MF) Jordan Doherty, 23 (MF) Sebastian Asmussen; 13 (FW) Sebastían Guenzatti