Hartford Begin U.S. Open Cup Play against NYCFC II

April 16, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release

Date: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut

Streaming: ussoccer.com

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (3-1-0) vs NYCFC II (2-2-0)

After a week of rest, Hartford Athletic begin their two-match week with a matchup against NYCFC II (MLS Next Pro) in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

LAST TIME OUT

Hartford Athletic are coming off a 3-2 victory over The Miami FC on Saturday, April 6th. Hartford played a dominant first half, putting five shots on target to Miami’s 0 and drawing a penalty kick in the 30th minute after Deshane Beckford was tripped in the box. Romario Williams was denied by Daniel Gagliardi on the PK try, but Beckford gave Hartford the lead with a counter-attacking goal in the 45th minute. After the missed opportunity in the first half, Williams scored off a corner kick nine minutes into the second half to double Hartford’s lead. Gabriel Cabral responded for Miami, bouncing a shot from the top of the box and into the bottom left corner to beat Paul Walters in the 76th minute. Protecting a one-goal lead in stoppage time, second half sub Enoch Mushagalusa gave Athletic breathing room with his first goal of the season. Hartford conceded an own goal off the back of Joe Farrell a minute later, but held on after six minutes of stoppage time for the 3-2 victory.

BECKFORD BREAKS THROUGH

Deshane Beckford had his best performance of the season so far against Miami. He had his way in the attacking third, recording five shots and 10 total touches in Miami’s box. His speed on the outside flanks was on full display, as both the penalty he drew and the goal he scored were a result of his rapid pace on the ball. The penalty came after Beckford made a long run up the left side and made a quick move from right-to-left in the box, beating Samuel Biek and forcing the tripping foul. His first goal of the season came on the counter attack, a well-executed breakout between him and Anderson Asiedu. The midfielder tapped the ball forward and Beckford, who made a dazzling run to chase it down and beat a charging Gagliardi in a foot race to the ball, then he finished on the open net. “[Beckford] can change a game in a moment, and he did it multiple times today,” said Coach Burke post game. “He was the Man of the Match.”

HARTFORD’S U.S. OPEN CUP HISTORY

Hartford Athletic have played six total matches in the Open Cup, posting a 3-3 record…