Hartford Secures First Win of 2023 Behind Amoh’s Hat Trick, 3-0 Final in Open Cup

April 4, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Hartford Athletic News Release

Hartford generated six chances in the opening half of tonight’s match before striking first in the 27th minute, when Elvis Amoh found the back of the net. Antoine Hoppenot dribbled up the left flank and fed a ball across the field and into the box to Kyle Edwards, who headed the ball to the center of the box for Amoh, who finished at the doorstep past Lansdowne keeper Anet Clement.

Hartford kept their foot on the gas the rest of the half, but could not find another goal. Elvis hit the post just two minutes after his first goal, and Kyle Edwards was involved again when he just missed the net on a shot from inside the box in the 33rd minute. Antoine Hoppenot registered a shot on target, and Prince Saydee booted an ambitious try from outside the box that flew just above the crossbar. In stoppage time, Amoh hit the post for the second time. Hartford recorded 16 total shots, put five on target, and totaled 21 touches inside Lansdowne’s box while keeping the visitors out of their box for the full 45 minutes. Lansdowne’s best chance of the half came off a Hartford turnover at midfield, which led to an open look at goal and a shot from Julio Espinal.

The Green and Blue began the second quieter than the first, recording just two shots through 20 minutes, but still spending time in the Lansdowne third. They broke through the waning Lansdowne back line in the 72nd minute, when Elvis Amoh drew a penalty kick after firing a shot off a hand of a defender in the box. Amoh would be the man to take the penalty, and beat Clement to the bottom right corner of the net. Down 2-0, the visitors nearly responded just three minutes later when Shamir Mullings hit the post with a header.

Hartford sealed the game with a brilliant team effort on their third and final goal of the match. Jeciel Cedeño made a sliding deflection near midfield, hustled to repossess the ball, and started an odd man rush in the final third. The 23-year-old played a ball across the field that was met with a clever dummy from Jonathan Filipe, and trickled to Elvis Amoh at the top of the box. The Ghanaian striker one-timed his shot and beat Clement for a third time, securing a hat trick and a 3-0 lead for the home side. A fantastic effort from Cedeño, he earned his first assist in a Green and Blue uniform. The score would remain the same the rest of the way.

Hartford Athletic took a season-high 24 shots putting nine…