June 7, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release
After a successful four-point home stand, Hartford Athletic sit just a point below the eastern conference playoff line behind North Carolina FC. They’re back on the road tomorrow night with a chance to climb the table, facing off against the top team in the west.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 1-1 draw against Rhode Island FC at Trinity Health Stadium last Saturday. The Green and Blue were caught on their heels in the early stages of the match, falling behind before five minutes had passed. Rhode Island took the lead when Mark Doyle played a cross into the box from JJ Williams off a volley and past Renan Ribeiro. Hartford weathered the early storm and leveled their rivals’ lead in the 24th minute of play. Joe Farrell got a piece of a perfectly placed corner fired into the box from Triston Hodge, heading the ball past Koke Vegas to tie up the score 1-1. Farrell’s goal was followed by an onslaught of scoring attempts from Hartford, and they nearly put another in the net in the 40th minute when Michee Ngalina’s header bounced off the right post. Both Rhode Island and Hartford traded scoring chances in the second half but neither could break the tie. The match ended 1-1, marking Hartford’s first draw of the season.
ON THE ROAD
Hartford currently hold a 1-4-0 away record, with their lone road victory coming in their season opener on March 9th (1-0 over El Paso). The Green and Blue will be challenged to improve this number and put a dent in New Mexico’s 4-0-0 home record this Saturday.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Hartford Athletic are 1-0-1 with New Mexico United all time, dating back to their first matchup against the Black and Yellow in 2021. The two teams began their history with a 2-2 tie in June of 2021 at Isotopes Park. The teams met again two years later at Trinity Health Stadium in May of 2023, resulting in a 2-1 comeback victory for Hartford. New Mexico started off the scoring with an early goal in the 13th minute of the match, putting the Green and Blue down a goal for the remainder of the first half. It wasn’t until the 72nd minute when second half substitute Beverly Makangila put a powerful strike into New Mexico’s net that Hartford was able to equalize. The midfielder changed the course of the game for Hartford after receiving a pass from Andre Lewis outside of the box, then taking a touch and firing an unsaveable shot to the top right corner of New…