August 31, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Hartford Athletic News Release
After a nightmare start, Hartford Athletic clawed their way to a 3-3 tie against the New York Red Bulls II tonight. The comeback effort was capped off by two stoppage time goals.
Hartford Athletic were caught on their heels at the start of tonight’s match in a major way, conceding two goals in the first three minutes. Right off the kickoff, O’Vonte Mullings made a quality run from midfield all the way into Hartford’s box. He found John Murphy, who took a shot that was partially blocked and saved by Slayton. With carnage in the box, Luka Prpa attempted to clear, but his attempt deflected off of Jesús Castellano and past Slayton. The home side had taken the lead just 17 seconds into the match. Two minutes later, Jordan Adebayo-Smith got loose into Hartford’s box and found Jonathan Filipe, who drilled his shot past Slayton. For a team who entered the game last in the league in total goals (18), it was a dream start for the Red Bulls.
The Green and Blue would settle in, creating some scoring opportunities of their own. In the 26th minute, Ariel Martínez got behind the New York back line off of a turnover and dribbled past keeper Derreck Chan, who was off his line. However, Matt Nocita made a heroic defense play to chase down Martínez and kept him from getting a shot off. Prince Saydee had multiple big chances for Hartford, his best one coming in the 31st minute. Younes Boudadi fed a pin point cross to Saydee at the New York doorstep, and Chan made a quality quick reaction save. The 2-0 Red Bulls lead would hold going into the locker room.
Hartford made headway on the comeback trail right away in the second half. In the 50th minute, Danny Barrera fed a corner kick that Tom Brewitt headed into the back of the net, cutting the Red Bull lead in half. Barrera would follow the goal with a scoring chance of his own, blasting a shot just above the crossbar in the 54th minute.
Hartford would take five more shots before New York broke through for their third goal in the 70th minute. Jonathan Felipe received a cross from O’Vante Mullings, and headed it downward perfectly, netting his second goal of the match.
The 3-1 score would hold into stoppage time until Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. scored Hartford’s second goal at the 90:00+1:53′ mark. Rashawn Dally delivered a brilliant ball to the Honduran striker from outside the box, and Obregón finished the header. Seemingly too…