USL Hartford Athletic

Athletic Travel to Miami Looking for Back-To-Back Wins

Published on August 21, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release


HARTFORD ATHLETIC (8-6-3) at MIAMI FC (9-6-4)

Date: Sunday, August 22nd

Time: 6:30 PM ET

Location: Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, FL

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

Hartford Athletic dominated the possession from start to finish in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Charleston Battery at Dillon Stadium. The Boys in Green snapped a four-game winless streak and put themselves firmly back in the USL Championship's Atlantic Division playoff picture.

LOAN SHARKS:

In early July, the Athletic Squad welcomed Derek Dodson, who since arriving has contributed 4 goals in just 7 games. On Monday, Hartford welcomed Justin Haak back into the fold, taking in the midfielder on loan from NYCFC for the second consecutive season. Haak played 8 matches for Hartford Athletic in 2020 and made an immediate impact in the midfield. He logged 675 minutes, completed 80.5% of his passes, and scored his first professional goal, a right-footed volley off a corner kick in a 3-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II. In his debut match against Charleston, Haak completed 90.6% of his passes and won 75% of his aerial duels.

HARRY IS BUILDING:

Soccer is a fickle sport, with results being of utmost importance to fans. Hartford was undefeated 4 matches into the season, and along the way registered their most emphatic win in club history after hammering NYRB II 7-0. Solid form continued throughout the season, until a 4-match winless streak began to worry some. Despite the poor form, the performances were nothing to indicate that the direction of the squad was wrong. After a crucial victory against Charleston that broke the winless streak, Head Coach Harry Watling had this to say "In every season, there's going to be corners to turn and we've had to turn a corner. I felt like the first half tonight was probably the best I've seen us play as a total performance so I was really happy." Harry will look to build on this performance and kick-start a positive run of form.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

After registering 50 league appearances for the first time in Hartford's history, Danny went and dropped another stellar performance, with a goal and an assist against Charleston in what was really a must-win for Hartford to break their winless streak. Danny will want to take that momentum with him away to Miami to help Hartford on a good run of form at the early portion of the second half of the season.

Miami FC, Devon Williams, MF #80

Williams comes into the match against Hartford off the back of two of his best performances this season. In Miami's 0-0 match against Austin Bold, Williams played all 90 minutes, registering 7 recoveries and an 86% pass success rate. Just 3 days prior to the Austin match, playing in defensive midfield, Devon scored twice in an enthralling 3-2 win against Pittsburgh. Williams is an engine in the midfield, and he will want to take it to Hartford after his 2 stellar recent performances.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Luka Prpa (Foot)

Questionable: Preston Tabort Etaka (Hand), Gabriel Torres (Ribs)

Miami FC:

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Hartford travel to a Miami team in great form. After a poor run of form in June, Miami have won 6, drawn 3, and lost only one match, courtesy of a Danny Barrera assist show which sunk Miami 2-0 at Dillon Stadium. Miami's last outing ended in a hard fought 0-0 draw away to Austin Bold. Miami is yet to register a win against Hartford this season despite playing 3 times; a streak they'll be desperate to put an end to.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #MIAvHFD

Check out the Hartford Athletic Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 21, 2021


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