PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, April 16th, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida
Local TV: WCTX MyTV9
Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (0-3-1) vs MIAMI FC (2-2-1)
LAST TIME OUT:
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 2-1 road loss against Birmingham last Sunday. Birmingham was out on the front foot for the majority of the first half, as they hit woodwork twice in the first 15 minutes of the game and scored off a penalty in the 39th minute (Juan Agudelo). Hartford was able to answer with Ash Apollon’s first goal of the season, assisted by Andre Lewis. Despite improved offensive play and more time spent in Birmingham’s third, Hartford couldn’t find a second half goal. In stoppage time, Anderson Asiedu found space off a corner and headed home the game winning goal to beat the Green and Blue in the final seconds. Â
SET PIECE EXECUTION:
Hartford Athletic have shown promise in their set pieces so far in 2022. In their season opener, they nearly scored a late equalizer in Pittsburgh off of a brilliantly placed free kick from Andre Lewis, and they were able to break through against Oyster Bay United last week, when Joel Johnson scored a header off a corner kick fed by Luka Prpa. With great distributors such as Prpa, Lewis, Danny Barrera, and others, Hartford has the ability to find another goal off a set piece sooner rather than later. It just may be the winning formula for them on Saturday.Â
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera MF #10
While it’s still early in the season, Hartford Athletic are coming off back to back losses in USL Championship play, and will look to come back home with three points in their pocket any way that they can. It’s typical that in times like these, clubs look to their leaders to be a calm presence and lead by example, which team captain Danny Barrera has done so well in his career with the Green and Blue. The longest tenured player in club history is an all-time great distributor in the USL Championship, and bagged eight goals last season. He’s yet to record a goal or assist so far in 2022, but he’s bound to make an impact on Saturday night in Miami.
Miami FC, Kyle Murphy FW #9
Murphy is entering his seventh season in the USL Championship and is a proven goalscorer. He is coming off a monster year with Memphis in 2021 in which he scored 21 goals, landing him in a five-way tie for second most in the Championship. He hasn’t found the back of the net this season, but has put three of his five shots on target. Tom Brewitt, Modou Jadama and others in Hartford’s back line will have their hands full containing the 29-year-old striker.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
The Miami FC hold a 2-2-1 record and sit on the top half of the Eastern Conference table at 6th place. They’ll be carrying some momentum into Saturday, as they’re coming off an impressive road victory at Tampa Bay in which they kept a clean sheet and Pierre Da Silva scored the loan goal. It will be a battle of two strong defenses, as both teams have scored just four USLC goals so far, but have conceded no more than two goals in a game. Hartford Athletic were 2-1-1 against Miami in 2021, splitting the two games at FIU Stadium.
INJURY REPORT:
Hartford Athletic:
Juan Carlos ObregĂłn Jr.
Miami FC:
None
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #MIAvHFD
