Hartford Close Two-Match Week in Birmingham

August 2, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release

Hartford Athletic carry Wednesday’s home win over Detroit City down south to Birmingham to face Legion FC on Saturday, looking to complete the season sweep after besting the familiar Eastern Conference side 1-0 at Trinity Health Stadium in March.

LAST TIME OUT

Hartford Athletic are coming off a 1-0 victory over Detroit City FC at home this past Wednesday. The Green and Blue were on the front foot for the majority of the match, creating the bigger chances throughout and scoring the would-be game winner in the 23rd minute on Deshane Beckford’s third goal of the season. Going into the second half with the lead, Hartford stayed determined for a second goal and continuously challenged Nate Steinwascher. Michee Ngalina, Mamadou Dieng, and Beckford got loose multiple times and challenged Detroit’s keeper, combining to put four shots on target in the half. Dieng put the ball in the net in the 70th minute after a feed from Beckford on a two-on-two breakout chance in transition, but was called offside. Athletic’s attacking play was just one half of the story, as the back line picked up its second straight clean sheet. Renan Ribeiro made five saves, and the defense blocked six shots and swiped 16 interceptions in total to make things difficult for Detroit in the attacking third.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Hartford Athletic are 2-4-1 against Birmingham Legion all-time, picking up the second-ever victory against them earlier this year. The Green and Blue have never beaten Legion FC on the road, and they’ve been defeated by stoppage time goals the last two times they’ve played at Protective Stadium. It was Enzo Martinez netting the game winner in 2023, and Anderson Asiedu, who now plays for Hartford, heading in a corner kick in 2022 to give Birmingham the 2-1 lead in the third minute of stoppage time.

THE FIRST MEETING

Hartford and Birmingham met at Trinity Health Stadium back on March 23rd in Athletic’s home opener. Fighting through a consistent downpour of freezing rain, it was a first half goal from Michee Ngalina (assisted by Anderson Asiedu) that ended up being the game-winner for the home side. Hartford were all over Birmingham in the first half, taking 21 shots, putting seven on target, and owning 58% of the possession through the opening 45 minutes. Deshane Beckford had an active game, creating four first half chances and totaling nine touches in Legion FC’s box. Hartford’s defense earned a…