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Preview: Athletic Looking for Three in a Row on Wednesday

August 18, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release


The Boys in Green are in first place and looking to keep the momentum rolling as they hit the road to take on Philadelphia Union II on Wednesday night. This is the second game in a stretch of four games in fourteen days for Athletic who are coming off a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls II on Saturday night. Wednesday's match is just the third road match of the season for Hartford who are 1-1-0 away from Dillon Stadium this season.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-1-0) vs PHILADELPHIA UNION II (1-4-1)

Date: Wednesday, August 19th

Time: 7:30 PM ET

Location: Subaru Park, Philadelphia, PA

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: hartfordathletic.com/watch or ESPN+

International Viewers: YouTube

LAST TIME OUT:

A headbanded Sam Strong scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Hartford Athletic's 2-1 victory vs Red Bull ll at Dillon Stadium. Alex Dixon put Hartford on the board first when Danny Barrera found an angle and dug out a precise out swinging cross. The ball found the head of Dixon who glanced in to put Athletic in front! Later in the half, Hartford forced a corner kick. Red Bulls II's Debutant keeper spilled Barrera's ball into the box and Strong gratefully put the loose ball in and celebrated with his famous headband among the supporters!

RISING UP THE RANKS:

It only took until the second match of the season for Danny Barrera to become the club's all-time leader in assists. Barrera now has 10 career assists and is six assists clear of second place. Alex Dixon has also climbed to the top of the goals scored charts with his goal on Saturday night against New York Red Bulls II. He now has 7 career goals in Green and Blue, tied with Wojciech Wojcik for most in club history.

ROCKET MADS:

Mads Jørgensen made a name for himself in his first season in Green and Blue, largely for his ability to produce highlight reel goals. Jørgensen scored 3 goals in USL Championship play and 2 goals in the US Open Cup and friendlies, all 5 of which came from outside the box. While he's taken the most shots of any player on the team this season with 13, Jørgensen finally found the back of the net the last time these two teams met. In the 44th minute, Mads teed one up from beyond the edge of the box and powered it past the keeper for the second Hartford goal of the night and his first of 2020.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Markus Naglestad, F #20:

The Hartford Forward group isn't a deep one and Naglestad is a welcome addition. Just 3 days ago, Alex Dixon and Tyreke Johnson played 87 minutes at the Forward position, in part due to injuries to Mac Steeves and Cheno Guzmán - both of whom are questionable for this match. Markus's rested legs and goal scoring prowess are exactly what the doctor ordered for this group.

Philadelphia Union II, Axel Picazo, MF, #59:

You'll never forget a name like his, but most Hartford fans, and surely those on the field at Dillon Stadium just over 3 weeks ago remember Picazo bagging a goal to give the visitors a two goal lead early in the match. Picazo's involvement in the offense has continued since then, setting up Jack McGlynn's equalizing goal in their match against NYRBII, the first win of the season for Philadelphia. Those on the Hartford back line will have to keep their eyes on Picazo in order to keep Union II off the board on Wednesday.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Philadelphia Union II enter this match having not played since August 5th. Hartford was supposed to travel to Philadelphia for a match on August 9th, but the match was postponed when a covered person in the Union II organization tested positive for COVID-19. Despite the long layoff, Philadelphia will look to capitalize on the positive momentum generated on August 5th, a 3-2 win over New York Red Bulls II, their first win of the season. Jack McGlynn, younger brother of Hartford midfielder Conor McGlynn, scored his first professional goal in the match and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his play in the match.

FOLLOW ONLINE:

Can't watch? Stay in touch with our live commentary @hfdathletic or by following #PHIvHFD

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 18, 2020


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