July 9, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Hartford Athletic News Release
Hartford Athletic entered Saturday’s contest seeking a better outcome than the last meeting between the two sides, a 1-1 draw on March 26 that Hartford led for the majority of the game. The Boys in Blue put together a terrific display, but it was not enough to overcome two late-game penalty kicks.
Both teams came into Trinity health Stadium riding high. Tampa Bay was looking to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games while Hartford was playing arguably their best soccer all season throughout the past two games, earning points four out of their last five times on the field. Athletic came out of the gates firing, looking to give their packed crowd something to cheer about. They controlled play early, possessing the ball 54% of the time throughout the first 10 minutes. They fired off the first shot of the game in just the fourth minute when McGlynn took a free kick from outside the box and sailed it over the woodwork.
Tampa Bay fought back, entering the final third multiple times in the early stages of the game, but could not muster up their first shot until the 25th minute. The Rowdies snatched the ball away in the corner of their attacking third and after some quick touches, the ball ended up on the foot of Dos Santos right in front of Hartford’s net. He sent a shot that threatened to break open the scoring, but a diving Yannik Oettl swooped in to save a goal.
After their first scoring chance, the Rowdies kept their foot on the gas and earned the game’s first tally in the 36th minute. They swiped the ball in the attacking third off a Hartford throw-in and after a tic-tac-toe passing display, Hilton served Asmussen at the top of the box. Asmussen delivered a highlight-reel goal, sending a laser off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead that would hold until the half.
The Rowdies were unbeaten in the last 68 matches in which they scored first; Hartford left the locker-room hoping to end that streak.
Tampa started the second half on the front foot, holding the ball for over 80% of the first few minutes, but the momentum would soon shift in spectacular fashion. In the 49th minute, Ariel Martinez intercepted a pass from the Rowdies keeper and dished it off to Danny Barrera just above the box who netted the equalizer. The Rowdies tried to roar right back, streaking into Hartford’s 18 in the 52nd minute, but Athletic’s…