PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date:Â Wednesday June 14th, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Match Day Promotion: $2 Beer $1 Hot Dog Night
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut
Tickets: HERE
Hartford Athletic are back at home for a two-match week, beginning with Detroit City FC tomorrow night.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 1-1 draw with Indy Eleven last Saturday, a match with an astonishing three red cards handed out. Adrián Diz Pe received the first red card in the sixth minute after a skirmish in front of Hartford’s net. Athletic took advantage of the man-up opportunity right away, as Kyle Edwards scored in the 12th minute on a breakaway. The tide turned for Hartford when Triston Hodge received his second yellow and subsequent red card in the 49th minute, evening the match at 10 men per side. They held onto their 1-0 lead until Jack Blake equalized for Indy in the 85th minute. In stoppage time, Antoine Hoppenot broke free from the Indy defense. Indy defender Gustavo Rissi slid into Hoppenot’s legs, drawing a red card and giving Hartford a free kick about three yards outside the box. Juan Pablo Torres could not convert the kick and the game ended in a draw.
GREEN AND BLUE… AND YELLOW
Hartford Athletic have been booked for a league-leading 45 yellow cards so far this season. Their opponents so far this year have totaled just 26 yellow cards.
CAN’T CONCEDE IF THEY DON’T SHOOT (ON GOAL)
Hartford Athletic’s defending has been much improved the last two games, conceding just one goal and allowing just two shots on goal. They didn’t allow Louisville to get a shot to Joe Rice, and held Indy without a shot on goal until the 85th minute last week.
A CHANCE TO AVENGE BAD MEMORIES
Hartford Athletic lost in devastating fashion to Detroit City 2-1 when the two clubs played at Trinity Health Stadium last season. Detroit captain Stephen Carroll, who still wears the arm band this year, scored a stoppage time winner off a corner kick just one minute after former Hartford midfielder Luka Prpa hit the post.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Detroit City FC is coming off a scoreless draw with USL Eastern Conference leading Charleston Battery. Detroit mustered 11 shots, including seven in Charleston’s box, but could not put any into the back of the net. This has been a common trend this season for City FC as they have a league-worst seven goals in 13 matches played. Detroit has only conceded more than one goal on one occasion this season. Since that one instance, a 5-1 loss on May 13th against Tampa Bay Rowdies, City FC have not conceded a goal with over 330 minutes of gameplay since then. The draw puts Detroit at 3-7-3 with 12 points, setting them tenth in the Eastern Conference Table. They come to Hartford amidst a three-game road trip.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic, Edgardo Rito DF #72
Newly acquired defender Edgardo Rito made his Hartford Athletic debut last week. He was subbed on in the 40th minute and showed off his elite speed right away. While he did not generate any shots or chances to score, he showed his potential to be a real playmaker. Last season he earned First Team All USL honors after scoring five goals and recording seven assists. The 27 year old Venezuelan comes to Hartford with the chance to make an immediate offensive impact on a team that has not scored more than two goals in a match since Week One.
Detroit City FC, Stephen Carroll DF #5
Detroit captain Stephen Caroll scored a stoppage time dagger against Hartford Athletic last season after a ricochet off the post. Caroll has yet to find the back of the net this season, but has played almost 1000 minutes for City FC. The 29-year-old and the backline of City FC look to continue their hot streak of excellent defense as they have not allowed a goal in their last three matches.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic
Out: Kembo Kibato (foot)
Detroit City
Out: Matt Lewis
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvDET
