Hartford hosts Detroit in a midweek game

July 30, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Press Release Hartford Athletic

After picking up a point against Phoenix Rising FC last Friday, Hartford Athletic return to Trinity Health Stadium to conclude their two-game home series against Detroit City FC.

LAST TIME

Hartford Athletic are coming off a 0-0 draw against Phoenix Rising FC on Friday. The final score was true to the action of the game, as neither team significantly outpaced the other in possession or chance creation. Phoenix owned 55.6% of the ball to Hartford’s 44.4%, and the two teams were separated by just one in shots (PHX seven, HFD six), touches in the penalty area (HFD 16, PHX 15), and just five entries into the final third (PHX 64, HFD 59). Emmanuel Samadia nearly snuck a corner kick into the net in the first half, hitting the ball off the crossbar for a rare strike off the woodwork from a difficult angle. Rising FC’s best chance of the game came when Juan Carlos Azócar got behind Hartford’s back line in the 53rd minute and forced Renan Ribeiro into a diving save. Hartford led in the final stages of the game but could not find a winner. Mamadou Dieng headed a ball over the bar, Michee Ngalina shot on goal and Kyle Edwards created a dangerous chance in the first minute of injury time. The striker zigzagged through two defenders and connected, but no penalty was awarded.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Wednesday marks the fifth time Hartford will face Detroit City FC. The team holds an all-time series record of 0-3-1 and will be hoping for their first win against the familiar Eastern Conference rival on Wednesday night. The two clubs first met in April 2022 at Trinity Health Stadium in a match that ended in heartbreaking news for Hartford. With the score tied at 1-1, with 81 minutes played, Luka Prpa came within inches of giving Athletic a late lead by hitting the crossbar from just in front of goal. Then, 12 minutes into stoppage time, Detroit captain (and still captain in 2024) Stephen Carroll scored the winning goal from a corner kick. A year ago at Trinity Health Stadium, Detroit secured a 3-1 victory with a brace from Ben Morris.

FAMILIAR FACES

Detroit City’s Elvis Amoh, Matt Sheldon and Jeciel Cedeno all played for Hartford Athletic in 2023. Amoh made 23 starts for Athletic, contributing five goals and registering one assist in nearly 1,900 minutes of playing time. After one season with the Green and Blue, the Ghanaian forward signed with Detroit and has since added two assists and three goals for Le Rouge. Sheldon proved to be one of Hartford’s most reliable wingbacks in 2023, with a goal and an assist, while contributing the third-most interceptions and the second-most duels won in 29 appearances. The Washington State native has brought his consistency to Detroit this season, appearing in 17 games and scoring a goal for Le Rouge. Jeciel Cedeno’s stint with the Green and Blue lasted two seasons, as he was re-allocated to Oakland in June 2023 in a trade that sent Edgardo Rito to Hartford. He played 36 games for Hartford and then scored four goals for Roots SC in a season and a half before being acquired by Detroit City earlier this week.

BETWEEN THE MESSAGES

With three saves last Friday night, Renan Ribeiro took his total to 49 and cracks the top ten in the USL Championship with that number. It’s been a strong year for the Brazilian in Hartford, making his debut six games into the 2024 schedule and showing little rust in his first professional action since 2020. He has a 1.22 GAA in 12 appearances, two clean sheets and has saved 80.2% of the shots he’s faced. At the other end of the pitch, Nate Steinwascher has been steady for Detroit. Despite making just 31 saves, he’s given up just 18 goals in 14 appearances (1.29 GAA). The 31-year-old is backed by a quality defensive line that has allowed just 21 goals this season (third-lowest in the USL Championship). Carlos Saldaña has also seen time in net for Detroit this season, making 12 saves and scoring three goals in four appearances.

QUICK TURN

Wednesday’s game is the second of three matches Hartford Athletic plays in an eight-day period, the club’s busiest stretch since it played NYCFC II (Open Cup), San Antonio FC and Louisville City in a 10-day span in April. “There will be some rotation, but I trust the guys that are rotated,” coach Burke said last week of the upcoming stretch. “These guys are all experienced, calm, cool heads.” The Green and Blue travel to Birmingham on Saturday to face Legion FC.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Detroit City currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with an 8-6-4 record this season. The Michigan team enters Wednesday’s match following a 1-0 loss to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, July 27. After an impressive start to the season, featuring five straight wins right from the start, Le Rouge has struggled to maintain momentum recently. The team comes to Trinity Health Stadium with a 1-2-2 record over their last five games, with a 4-0 win at Miami FC coming just over a month ago.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hartford Athletic: Mamadou Dieng, FW, #33

Mamadou Dieng has been a force in Hartford’s attack of late. The 20-year-old forward’s eye for goal was a crucial component in Hartford’s ability to create goals in their recent match against Phoenix Rising. Dieng sent two dangerous headers into the net for Hartford and created the Green and Blues’ only recorded big chance. The Senegal native made his first attempt to put Hartford on the board in the opening minutes of the match when he sent a powerful header that deflected off a Rising defender and out of bounds, earning Hartford a corner. Dieng threatened again in the 70th minute of the match, nearly putting Hartford ahead with a header that flew just over the bar. His performance also included the most duels (15) and aerial duels (8) of the match.

Detroit City FC: Maxi Rodríguez, MF, #21

As Detroit’s leading scorer and shooter, Maxi Rodriguez has been essential to their offensive efforts this season. With seven goals scored, the 28-year-old midfielder is eighth in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of Hartford’s leading scorer Michee Ngalina. Rodriguez has also had an active season in midfield, throwing himself into a team-leading 186 duels and winning 82 of them.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

For live updates, follow us on Twitter with the hashtag #HFDvDET

Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Time: 7:30pm ET

Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford CT

Tickets: HERE

Watch: CBS Sports Network

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (5-11-3) vs. DETROIT CITY FC (8-6-4)

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