Hartford Athletic

2026 US Open Cup: Rhode Island blanks Hartford Athletic as El Clamico rivalry comes to USOC

April 2, 2026 by Eric Casey

JJ Williams of Rhode Island FC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Hartford Athletic in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Rhode Island FC

Rhode Island FC got the better of their rivals Hartford Athletic in the teams’ first-ever showdown in the US Open Cup, winning 2-0 in a Second Round matchup at a rainy Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I on Wednesday night.

Set pieces were the key to RIFC’s victory. The home club struck first in the 12th minute, when a corner kick from Kevin Vang found the head of JJ Williams, who flicked it right to defender Aldair Sanchez for his first ever goal for RIFC.

Rhode Island added another in the 30th minute, again from a set piece. Agustin “Pity” Rodriguez’s corner cross into the box found the head of JJ Williams, whose effort squeaked through the arms of Hartford goalkeeper Enzo Carvalho.

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Hartford responded to open up the second half by subbing in some first-team firepower in the form of Adrian Diz, Augustine WIlliams, and Michee Ngalina, but it failed to have a serious impact on play.

A desperation goal line clearance in the 77th minute from RIFC sub Frank Nodarse kept Hartford off the scoreboard, deflecting Sebastian Anderson’s shot to safety.

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It would be Athletic’s best chance of the game, as RIFC continued to apply pressure late despite their two-goal lead.

Hartford found one more chance in the dying minutes but couldn’t get the ball over the line, as an injury time shot from Junior Moreira was inadvertently deflected away by fellow Athletic player Sebastian Anderson, preserving the shutout for RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas.

RIFC outshot their opponents 10-8 in the contest, with Hartford committing 14 fouls compared to RIFC’s 8 in an effort to slow down the home team.

“It feels good,” goalscorer Aldair Sanchez said of defeating their southern New England league rival. “Hopefully we use this as momentum going forward. We accomplished our goal.”

JJ Williams’ goal was his 20th for RIFC, securing his spot as the young club’s all-time leading goalscorer. With an MLS opponent on tap for next round, he is relishing the upcoming challenge.

“Excellent, I love that.” Williams said of facing a top-division side next round, “I think that all of our guys should be up for that. That’s what we do it for, playing on the biggest stage we possibly can.”

RIFC Head Coach and General Manager Connor Smith was happy with his club’s efforts in the Rhode Island rain, in a rivalry between clubs from two seafood-loving states that’s become known as “El Clamico.”

“It was an organized, professional performance against a tough opponent,” Connor said.

With the victory, RIFC earned their spot in the third round, the round in which they entered the competition in their previous two cup runs.

A draw against New England Revolution seems to be their most likely opponent for next round, with the Revolution having knocked RIFC out of the cup last year with a 2-1 victory.

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: Set pieces power Hartford Athletic past FC Motown STA

March 19, 2026 by Michael Battista

Hartford Athletic used the power of set-pieces to defeat FC Motown STA, 2-0, on Wednesday night in Newark, New Jersey. The defending USL Cup champions battled the defending USL League Two Metropolitan Division champs on a chilly night in Newark. But even a rotated roster with four players making their professional debut was enough for the Second Division side to secure victory thanks to a goal in each half.

With the win, Hartford stays perfect against amateur teams in the US Open Cup. In six tournaments the team has a record of 5-0-0 against Open Division sides.

“We gave four guys their pro debut tonight, which was awesome. Two academy players and two players that had just signed on 25-day (contracts), and actually our goalkeeper (Enzo Carvalho), that was his first pro game out of college as well,” said head coach Brendan Burke. “That says a lot about the system.The guys have learned the system through preseason and we just said stick to the structure and keep it simple and just grind through them because eventually our fitness level should take over the game and I think it did.”

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The first half was a struggle as both teams looked for an early foothold at Lubetkin Field on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Winger Galen Flynn, one of the players making his pro debut on the night, tore up the right side, finding space and trying to line the ball into the box on multiple attempts.

That threat persisted all match, while Motown struggled to get offense going. The side’s momentum was constantly stuttered by an aggressive Hartford side that wasn’t afraid to give up free kicks in their own end. Motown kickers consistently struggled to get air under their attempts and multiple kicks into the box were scuttled away easily.

The visitors jumped ahead in the 32nd minute when El Salvador international Andrés Hernández sent a corner kick into the box that found the head of defender TJ Presthus. The flicked header sailed past Motown keeper Dominic Ridge and gave Hartford a 1-0 lead.

Motown had two chances to tie the game before halftime. A long shot by Niklas Thanhofer was bobbled by the rookie Carvalho, and nearly pounced on by an attacking Noah Levy in the 38th. A minute later, Thanhofer struck again when a series of attempts by him in the box ended with Carvalho out of position and an attempt needed to be headed off the line by a Hartford defender.

The half ended with a final push by Motown, with former Richmond Kicker Rivendi Pierre-Louis being unable to get under a long ball in the box while under pressure.

“We knew they had a back line of four and it was important for us to get the second ball and starting from there, try to do the 2 v 1s on the outsides and that’s what we try to do,” Hernández explained. “We did pretty good set pieces. We’ve been practicing them so it’s good.”

The second half saw both teams begin to make subs. Motown introduced names like regular defender Joseph Fala and younger players like defender Peter Tolkin, brother of US Men’s National Team and 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel defender, John Tolkin. Hartford, on the other hand, began taking out more regulars. Defender Adrián Diz, midfielder Beverly Makangila, and a late sub on for the team’s biggest offseason addition in forward Augustine “Augi” Williams.

It didn’t take long for Hartford to essentially seal the result. A free kick early in the second half set up Hernández deep in Motown territory on the left side of the box. His curving shot got past the head of his own teammate but hit inside the far post to make it 2-0.

“Just quality, individual quality from Andres in those two moments, that changes games,” Burke said about his goal scorers. “TJ hunts the ball so well in set piece situations. He did it all year last year, and scored some really big goals for us from that.”

Motown pushed up trying to find any sort of momentum but struggled to get dangerous chances. Pierre-Louis and striker Luciano Sanchez especially had moments against the Hartford backline but couldn’t get that final touch.

Motown ended the match with 11 shots to Hartford’s six, and five shots on target to their opponent’s two. The difference was those two went in. The amateurs did mitigate their professional opponents to only goals scored on set-pieces. But for the fourth straight tournament Motown exited the Open Cup in the Round 1.

Of the 206 fans in attendance at NJIT, a loud and passionate portion belonged to the Bonanza supporter’s group from Hartford. A group that Burke knows stands behind his boys no matter where they play.

“Those guys showed up when we won the (USL Cup) last year, out in Sacramento. All those same guys, I think were there, so it’s awesome to have support. That means a lot to the players. It means a lot to the staff,” Burke said. “It gives you a little extra energy in a setting where, honestly, it’s pretty flat. There’s only 100 people here. So when they’re banging the drum and singing the whole time and they’re out here in the freezing cold, that gives you a little extra. I think the guys rewarded them for coming down tonight.”

When asked what team he might want to face next, whether it be rivals Rhode Island FC or the cupset ready Vermont Green FC, Hernández kept it cool.

“Any team that comes, we’re gonna have to do the same thing, win those games, and we’re gonna be focused on that,” he said.

2025 US Open Cup Round 2: 10-man Portland Hearts of Pine score late equalizer, oust Hartford Athletic in PKs

April 3, 2025 by Zach Marchick

On a chilly April night in front of a packed crowd of 3,002 at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Maine, the Portland Hearts of Pine pulled off the improbable: beating Hartford Athletic for their first upset win in just the club’s third match since its founding. Playing down a man in extra time, they fell behind 1-0 and managed to score an incredible equalizer and send the game into penalty kicks. In the shootout, they prevailed 4-2 to become the first team from the state of Maine to reach the Third Round in the 110-year history of the US Open Cup.

The Hearts, coming off a thrilling 4-0 US Open Cup victory in their first match against CD Faialense, and a scoreless draw on the road in league play against FC Naples this past Sunday, faced a tough test against Hartford. Hartford, competing in the USL Championship – a tier above the Pines who play in USL League One – struggled through a sluggish first half in Round 2 of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, with neither team managing to find the net.

It looked as if it could be a slow game, with the first high-percentage scoring look coming in the 63rd minute, when Hartfold goalie Gerold Antony Siaha made two miraculous saves – with the second unfolding after the first shot hit the post.

In the 72nd minute, Hartford came close to scoring, but the Portland goalkeeper, Hunter Morse, made a brilliant save – only to outdo himself with another exceptional stop in the 84th minute.

With 90 minutes unable to separate the sides, the match headed into 30 minutes of extra time. Tensions flared in the 93rd minute when Farrell of Hartford and Liadi of Portland got into a scuffle; both players received yellow cards.

In the 96th minute, Azaad Liadi of Portland collided with Joe Farrell while chasing down a ball headed back to Hartford’s goalkeeper. He was shown his second yellow card and sent off, forcing Portland to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Emotions continued to boil over in the 97th minute, as both the Hartford goalkeeper and Portland’s manager were shown yellow cards.

The first half of extra time ended scoreless, with neither side able to find the breakthrough. Through it all, the Dirigo Union continued to provide massive support for Portland despite the cold and the added tension of extra time.

Hartford finally found the net in the 107th minute when Jordan Scarlett headed in a corner from Emmanuel Samadia. As the match wore on, snow began to fall in the 111th minute, heightening the drama. Jake Keegan was subbed on in the 113th minute and made an immediate impact.

In the 115th minute, Keegan scored a massive goal, chipping the Hartford keeper from 25 yards out to tie the game.

After Portland equalized to force a penalty shootout, Evan Southern scored the final penalty of an intense shootout to give the Hearts a 4–2 win on penalties. The Hearts will now advance to the Third Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, with the draw for the third round taking place at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 3. The third round will take place from April 15-16, with each team in the Third Round being pooled geographically into groups of four.

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Hartford Athletic kick off tourney with 3-0 win over NY Shockers

March 18, 2025 by Nathan Robillard

Players from Hartford Athletic celebrate after scoring a goal against the New York Shockers in the First Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Hartford Athletic

Despite a severely shorthanded roster, Hartford Athletic’s opening match of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup couldn’t have gone any smoother. Visiting NPSL amateur side New York Shockers left Trinity Health Stadium with just one shot on net Tuesday as the hosts cruised to a 3-0 First Round victory in front of more than 2,000 fans.

The Shockers held their own, but had virtually nothing to offer in the attack, finishing the night with an expected goal count of just 0.08 and taking just five total touches in the Hartford box. The Green and Blue bossed New York in nearly every offensive category, dominating the scoresheet in shots (15-1), final third entries (87-35), possession (80%), corners (9-0), and passes (759-197).

“ had all three of our front three score,” said Hartford head coach Brendan Burke. “ generated enough chances to have a few more goals and dominated the ball, but I thought it was just a clean professional performance. They didn’t have a look at our goal until maybe very late…We took it seriously. We played at a decent tempo.”

Red card suspensions, international call-ups and injuries piled up for the hosts ahead of the fixture, who entered the game with just four substitutes. However, any lingering concern that the lack of men caused quickly dissipated as Hartford dominated the game from the outset.

“We weren’t close to having an 18 tonight, so it was really good to see the starters start well, be fit enough, be in good enough form to play 90 minutes and to be ball dominant,” Burke said.

After suffering a 2-0 shutout at the hands of USL Championship newcomers Lexington SC in the season opener on March 8, it didn’t take long for Burke’s side to find the back of the net on Tuesday. The home side struck just 11 minutes in when a pair of Hartford newcomers registered its first goal involvements for the club. Getting on the end of a pass down the right side of the penalty area, Jonathan Jimenez fed Adewale Obalola with a low cross inside the six-yard box, who calmly deposited a left-footed finnish into the back of the net to give Hartford the lead.

“I think getting the ball to hit the net definitely builds confidence for our front three,” said Hartford defender Jordan Scarlett. “But just for the team as a general, and to come up with a clean sheet, that was big for us. definitely came at the right time.”

The Shockers continued to struggle offensively as the match went on, getting only as far as the occasional hopeful long ball that an organized Hartford defense dealt with every time with ease. Just before halftime, Hartford doubled the advantage – this time through a pair of returners – when Michee Ngalina played a well-weighted ball in behind for Mamdou Dieng, who took the ball down the left flank before sending a low across the face of goal and in off the far post.

“We’re taking it serious now,” Scarlett said. “Normally we would have put up a second team, but we’re going for the first team. In everything this year, we’re going for it…Coaches gave us a speech all week. We’re coming here to three goals or more. We got three.”

The third goal eventually came for Hartford with just three minutes to play in regulation, when an active Nglaina got involved once again. This time profiting off of an dangerous cross from Obalola, the forward picked it out of the air from close range to put the game away in the late stages.

Defensively, Hartford goalkeeper Anthony Siaha didn’t get his hands on the ball until the 80th minute, corralling a loose cross that was just about the most dangerous chance the visitors got all night to wrap up a convincing win for the Green and Blue – its first of the young season.

For Burke, who won the Open Cup as an assistant coach with Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo in 2023, the win was a necessary step in the club’s growth in his second year at the helm.

“That’s something that you don’t forget,” Burke said. “For these guys, I think every step we get closer, you start to dream a little bit more…I think it’s important to chase every competition at this point. The club is growing and we did build a ton of momentum last year and fell just short.

This year is about building even more momentum.”

Hartford will be back in action on Saturday when they return to USL Championship play with a trip to Highmark Stadium to take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in search of its first league win. As for the Shockers – its NPSL campaign will kick off with a return to Trinity Health Stadium on May 4 with a visit to Hartford City FC.

2024 US Open Cup Round 3: NYCFC II carry MLSNP flag after comeback OT win at Hartford Athletic

April 18, 2024 by Michael Battista

NYCFC 2 players celebrate after scoring a goal against Hartford Athletic in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC II

“These guys are killing me. We’re not supposed to be losing this!”

The words of a random, passing by Hartford Athletic staff member accounted for many of the opinions at Trinity Health Park on Wednesday night. After 120 minutes and multiple red cards, New York City FC II of MLS NEXT Pro advanced to the Round of 32 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup past the USL Championship side, 3-2 after extra time.

NYCFC II head coach Matt Pilkington said after the match that he knows how important a game like this is to his young players. He and the first team have regular discussions about who should be considered for a MLS call-up, and results like this play a huge part.

“It’s a massive opportunity for players to develop, and I don’t think we give enough attention to all the MLS NEXT Pro teams and other teams in this competition because they don’t often get to play USL teams or teams within the structure of the U.S.,” said Pilkington. “So I do think we should be celebrating this opportunity and celebrating the fact that we have young teams and young players at 16 years old and 17 years old competing against season pros and how that’s going to help their development. It’s going to help the development of the league, and it’s going to help the development of the country. So, the more opportunities we can give these players, the better.”

Unlike NYCFC II’s game last round against New York Red Bulls II, no notable first-team players were in Wednesday’s lineup in Connecticut. In fact the only lineup change from the team’s league game on Sunday was in goal as Tomás Romero stepped up for his second straight USOC match instead of Alex Rando.

The home side came out swinging as the rain poured down on Trinity Health Stadium. The announced crowd of 2,517, including the ruckus Bonanza supporters and traveling members of The Third Rail, tried to cheer on their respective teams as the temperature began to drop. Enoch Mushagalusa and Mamadou Dieng both had dangerous looks in the first six minutes. A sixth minute header by Dieng looked to be the opening goal but it was called offside by the linesman. Other highlights included multiple bicycle kick attempts by Dieng that couldn’t get on target.

New York got periodic chances at the other end. A corner kick in the 40th minute, the Baby Blues first of the match, was easily cleared. The visitor’s only had three shots total, none on target, and entered halftime with 39% possession. On the other side, Hartford had eleven shots with four being on target.

The second half marked a tonal shift for both teams. While New York started where it left off on the backfoot, the possession game was slowly creeping in their favor. Still Hartford had control, with former New York Red Bulls player Reece Buckmaster got behind the backline but shot wide left against his former team’s biggest rival.

In the 63rd minute, NYCFC II started a quick counter with Taylor Calheira finding Jonathan Jiménez on the right side. Last round’s hat-trick hero got into the box, beat one defender before getting past another sliding one. Keeper Paul Walters tried to come out but Jiménez fed the ball back to Calheira for the empty net tap in.

It was a moment that completely went against the run of play. And it felt like Hartford quickly went into panic mode, using all three standard substitute windows to bring in five players within 11 minutes of the go-ahead goal. These players included experienced ones like Joe Farrell, Deshane Beckford, and journeyman forward Romario Williams.

NYCFC 2 players celebrate after beating Hartford Athletic 3-2 in extra time in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC II

Hartford’s offense, buoyed especially by Williams and fellow sub Marcus Epps, employed a high press to try and box in NYCFC. It almost looked as though the game was back level in the 72nd minute when a Dieng shot was blocked by Romero. With the ball in the air, the keeper tried to catch or punch it away but missed, possibly influenced by the slick surface, sending the ball towards the line. However Romero was just able to snatch the ball before it crossed over the goalline, much to the ire of the home crowd.

In the 78th minute HFD got its break when NYCFC II defender Alexander Hauschild brought down former Williams in the box during an attack on the right side. The former Jamaican national team player shot right down the middle to equalize in the 81st minute.

Both teams had chances to win it late, especially in an extended stoppage time. A heavy challenge by New York’s Piero Elias against Beverly Makangila was a sign of things to come. Makangila was helped off the field and left the game, replaced by Anderson Asiedu at the start of extra time.

The Baby Blue saw yellow, but William’s seemed to take justice into his own hands. Right as play resumed in the 90+8’ with a goal kick, the forward jumped and barrelled Jake Rozhansky from behind in the air right in front of the sideline. Williams earned a yellow of his own, with the nearby bench voicing their displeasure (most of which was caught on the sideline microphone and heard on the broadcast). Head coach Brendan Burke was shown yellow and eventually assistant coach and former player Aaron Wheeler was shown a straight red.

As emotions heated up, the whistle blew to signal full time. Neither team had ever played extra time in a competitive match, let alone in the US Open Cup.

Extra time started quickly for both teams. Jiménez jumped on a loose ball in Athletic’s end and ran into the Hartford box. His shot was deflected by keeper Walters, but sent right back in the bath of NY’s Jonathan Shore. However the 17-year-old couldn’t get all of it and the attempted shot went wide right.

Hartford responded right off the subsequent goal kick. Williams headed the ball towards Deshane Beckford who got free on the left side. He drove into the box and scored past Romero to give Hartford its first lead of the game in the 92nd minute.

The lead didn’t last long though as New York’s attack found the team’s regular dynamic duo in the 99th minute. With the ball on the left edge of the box, Jiménez crossed the ball towards Calheira. A downward header got past Walters, bouncing off the ground and into the net for a brace to tie the game.

“I saw JJ had the ball and he’s good with putting that little chip ball in,” said number 99 about his 99th minute goal. “So I was trying to get a little separation with the center back. Once the ball was in the hair I knew as long as I got my head on it I knew I had a great chance.”

It’s the second time Jiménez has assisted Calheira on a goal this tournament. Not surprising considering the two spent a lot of time together, even carpooling up to Wednesday’s night’s game.

From the start of the second ET half NYCFC dominated, beginning with a Máximo Carrizo shot that easily went wide right. In the 109th minute, Jiménez got under a cross on the left side in open play. Getting close to the box, his shot was saved by Walters. The rebound fell right to Carrizo in the box, who point-blanked a strike into the net for the subsequent game winner. New York ended the second ET outshooting Hartford 5-0.

“It’s great. I mean, it’s fantastic for him and the work he’s put in. He’s quite young, so we have to manage his loads at times, but he looks fresher and fitter than he’s been,” said coach Pilkington about Carrizo. “He comes alive around the box. He nearly scored in extra time before he got the goal, so he’s dangerous. I think even towards the end, for him to play 90 plus 30 in a game like this just shows how hard he’s working in training and how hard he’s been working in games so far this season.”

Things got ugly before the end as Hartford got more physical. A foul by Athletic brought Joe Schmidt in the face of referee Christian Centeno, who showed him a yellow. Anderson Asiedu was then shown yellow for essentially checking an NYCFC player from behind in the 119th.

In the next minute, a potential Hartford breakaway was stopped when Marcus Epps was pulled down from behind by Rozhansky who pulled him by the jersey. The two teams converged and Epps made contact with Rozhansky, either a punch or a shove to the face, sending the City player to the ground.

Rozhansky was shown yellow, Epps was given a straight red card.

After the subsequent free kick for Hartford, now playing with 10 men, New York cleared the ball with Rozhansky running up the left sideline. Beckford entered from stage right, slid right into the NYCFC player’s legs, and brought the two teams together once again. This time with more physical contact between the two sides. Beckford and NYCFC’s Chris Tiao were both shown straight reds for violent conduct. The game ended not long after.

The result marks the second time an NEXT Pro team has ever beaten a USL Championship team in the tournament (2022 Round 2; St. Louis CITY SC 2 vs Indy Eleven). It also makes NYCFC II the lone remaining MLSNP team in the 2024 tournament. The team now has a chance to play either more USLC competition or, possibly, a team from Division 1 Major League Soccer.

“That’s our goal. When we came into this game, we knew in the next round, the big dogs (would) come in,” Calheira said. “We’re all developing, and that’s where we want to be at the end of the day. The better the competition, the better we move on, the better we grow as teammates, and that’s what we can do moving forward.”

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Young New England Revolution edges Hartford Athletic, 2-1

April 27, 2023 by Eric Casey

David Romney of the New England Revolution celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Hartford Athletic in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: New England Revolution

In a game that would decide which team would be the sole representative of the region left standing in the 2023 US Open Cup, the Revolution proved that they are indeed worthy of their New England moniker, defeating Hartford Athletic 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals from Justin Rennicks and Dave Romney secured the victory, assuring that the Revolution will play in the Fourth Round for their eighth consecutive Cup in a row.

New England rested several players who have been a key part of their success in the young MLS season, including star Carles Gil and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovich, with Earl Edwards Jr. getting the nod in net instead. Hartford would have to attempt to upset New England without star striker Elvis Amoh, who missed the contest due to an injury.

A look back at last night’s @opencup victory over Hartford Athletic ???? pic.twitter.com/7V2xqZ7kCe
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 26, 2023

In the first 10 minutes of the contest, Athletic showed little sign of being intimidated by their first-division opponent. A New England turnover in their half in the seventh minute led to an early chance for Hartford’s Prince Saydee, but his strike deflected off the crossbar.

Instead, it would be the Revolution who ended up striking first. A header from forward Justin Rennicks in the 12th minute off a well-placed corner kick from Rivera gave the home team an early lead. This goal was Rennick’s second all-time in Cup competition. It was also his first of the 2023 calendar year.

Despite being only 24 years old, six of the Revolution’s starters were younger than Rennick, suddenly casting him into a role as one of the squad’s veteran leaders.

“I try to do my best to talk to the guys and keep them going,” he said. “They’re all so talented, it’s a pleasure to play with them.”

Even after allowing the early goal, Hartford hardly looked out of place playing at an MLS stadium, frequently applying pressure on New England’s defenses. Their best chance for a first-half goal came in the 39th minute when a cross from Saydee was deflected by Edwards Jr. into the center of the goal area. An attempt to clear the ball by New England defender Joshua Bolma bounced off the back of a teammate’s leg and then ricocheted off the post, nearly resulting in a game-tying own goal. The ball fell to Hartford’s Jeciel Cedeno, but he was unable to guide it past New England’s defense.

Hartford continued to press in the second half. In the 52nd minute, a sudden counterattack from Athletic allowed Prince Saydee to slide a quick pass across the goal area to Antoine Hoppenot, who then put a slow shot back across the net to beat a diving Edwards Jr. This goal was Hoppenot’s first of 2023 and comes over 11 years since he scored his first USOC goal for Philadelphia Union in 2012.

In the 56th minute, a shot from outside the box off the foot of Cedeno required a diving save from Edwards, narrowly missing a chance to give Hartford the lead. Several New England giveaways on their side of the field allowed Hartford to control the pace of play for the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Possibly sensing that his team needed a boost, Revolution Coach Bruce Arena made some drastic changes to the lineup in the 71st minute. Four players entered the match, including Revolution mainstays Carles Gil and Brandon Bye, as well as newcomer Dave Romney.

The fresh legs seemed to help New England, and the momentum slowly started to swing their way. In the 76th minute, two of the recent substitutes combined to give the Revolution the 2-1 lead. A Gil cross found the left foot of Romney, who flipped it home past a diving Sanchez to give the former Nashville FC defender his first goal for his new club.

New England turned their attention to holding on to their lead, bringing on established veteran defender Andrew Farrell in the 85th minute to help shore up their defense. This was Farrell’s 15th all-time appearance for the Revs in the Cup, putting him two behind Diego Fagundez for most in club history.

Farrell’s presence proved to be a stabilizing force. While Hartford managed to earn a few late corners and a last-minute freekick outside the box, they failed to capitalize on any of these opportunities, allowing the Revolution to escape with the win.

After the game, Arena was satisfied that his club got the result they needed to advance but took issue with their overall performance.

“I think it was a sloppy performance on our part. The first half, we didn’t play particularly well, and then conceded that goal at the beginning of the second half,” he said. “We got a little bit better, we had a few chances we were sloppy with.”

This 2-1 victory allowed New England to advance to the Fourth Round of the competition, continuing their unbeaten streak in 2023 while playing at home. Their use of several younger rotational players also gave some key members of the squad a chance to get some rest before a big MLS clash with fellow Eastern Conference leaders F.C. Cincinnati on Saturday.

About 30 or so boisterous Hartford Athletic faithful made the 100-mile trek from Connecticut over to Foxborough, making their presence known at cavernous Gillette Stadium. The game officially drew just under 2,000 fans.

While this is now the third US Open Cup in a row that Athletic has crashed out in the Third Round, Hartford goalscorer Antoine Hoppenot was appreciative of the support from their fans following the game.

“It gave us a little bit of extra energy. It was massive,” he said. “It gave us an opportunity to get back into the game and push through the ninety.”

2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Elvis Amoh’s hat trick sends Hartford Athletic past Lansdowne Yonkers

April 6, 2023 by Michael Battista

Elvis Amoh of Hartford Athletic strikes the ball in a 2023 US Open Cup match against Lansdowne Yonkers FC. Photo: Hartford Athletic

Elvis Amoh’s hat-trick pushed Hartford Athletic to a Second Round win over Lansdowne Yonkers FC, 3-0, for the team’s first win of the year overall. The Connecticut side wins its third straight US Open Cup home opener against an amateur team. For Yonkers, this is the second straight Second Round exit.

Hartford head coach and 2005 Hall of Fame inductee Tab Ramos knew his team was favored going into Tuesday night. But having grown up in Kearny, N.J., he knew the caliber of player the NYC metro produces.

“We grew up watching the Celtic bhoys come to us and we’d play against them and every summer (and) we’d try so hard to give them a good game,” Ramos said after the match. “If there’s one thing I told my team it’s that ‘look these guys, they might not be as fit as we are, they might not train all the time but I’ll tell you what they’re gonna fight for 90 minutes. And if we give them a chance and they can survive, they’ll pull one out because they can do it.’ So we knew that it would be a dangerous game because their demeanor was going to be that they were going to go as hard as they could from the first minute till the last.”

On the other sideline, the ruckus Bonanza Supporter’s Group was one of the difference makers. With many of the members still celebrating (and hung over from) the previous night’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament national championship win by the University of Connecticut, their support felt even louder. Considering where the team currently sits in the USL Championship standings, SG vice president Mike Peshka knows how the night could be a “get it right” type of match.

“Get things right, get things in motion for the season tonight,” Peshka said ahead of the match. “We’re taking it one day at a time. We’ll see who we’re playing next, we’re kinda hoping we’re playing the Revs… we’re taking it game by game.”

The final scoreline might be a little misleading. Athletic was the better team but for over two-thirds of the match Lansdowne held the second division team back. The amateurs were already familiar with Trinity Health Stadium after defeating NPSL side Hartford City FC, 2-1, in the previous round. However the team was also still dealing with the effects of that match with two players sidelined with injury.

For the first half Hartford controlled possession but struggled to get actual shots. The team’s formation had four defenders in the back but it shifted into an almost 3-4-3 at times. That extra midfielding talent wasn’t enough to make a dent early. It took until the 16th minute when a long pass on the far side hit a running Antoine Hoppenot. The French journeyman shot low at the far post but was met by Lansdowne keeper Clément Anet, who made the sliding save.

(Of note, this was followed by a hydration/Ramadan break in the 17th minute, something that was only officially announced a few days ahead of this round).

“We created a number of chances in the first half to be up four, five (to) zero,” Ramos said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get the goal. The important part was the team kept going.”

The home side broke through in the 27th minute. A long cross to the near post found Kyle Edwards’ head who directed the ball towards Amoh. His follow-up header was essentially a point-blank chip that crossed the line to make it 1-0.

Yonkers’ goalkeeper Clément Anet was the star of the match for the visiting amateurs. On a team where veteran keeper Kabo Danso has been a staple of Open Cup runs and national titles, the University of Bridgeport graduate student filled his shoes well. Most of his six saves kept the Bhoys in the game while only trailing by one goal.

One of those came in the 37th minute. Hartford midfielder Luke Merrill took the ball into the box on the near side before passing in to Kyle Edwards. He broke away from a defender, with just Anet to beat in front of the net. His shot hit directly off the keeper’s chest and back into play, right in the path of striker Prince Saydee. His hard attempt was only pushed over the crossbar by Anet charging towards him and reaching a hand out, gracing the ball with his fingertips to force a corner kick.

Saydee had another chance in the 68th minute. A Danny Barrera run up the nearside saw him cross into the box, where the one-time Liberian national team player was unmarked. His direct shot on goal was, again, tipped over by Anet reaching up and using his fingers to redirect the ball.

While he and the defensive line held out, Lansdowne’s offense struggled to get going. In total, the team only made six shots with none on target. The amateur side playing in its sixth tournament match, including four qualifying round games, had their best looks on counter attacks. While Hartford used the wings, the bhoys played up the middle. Players like Edward Speed, son of legendary Wales National Team player Gary Speed, were quick but lacked the killer final touch. That was seen in the 22nd minute when a through pass found Shaquille Suanchez between two Athletic defenders on a run. He hesitated and the defense poked the ball away, where Julio Espinal stepped in to shoot. He hit the side netting.

All of this was broadcasted by Yonkers’ honorary president and former UEFA Champions League broadcaster Tommy Smyth.

Eventually Hartford’s possession and pushing advantage caught up. Elvis hit the post two minutes after his first goal and Edwards barely missed the net on a shot from inside the box in the 33rd. However the former put the game away in the 73rd minute. His shot in the 72nd hit off the extended hand of Musa Bala Danso, earning the Yonkers’ player a yellow and sending the Ghanian to the spot. Anet guessed right when Elvis shot low and to the right, but couldn’t get a hand in front of the attempt.

With the game at 2-0, both teams made numerous subs in the next ten minutes. Lansdowne head coach Sean Kelly brought on former USL midfielder Patrick McCann and attacker Victor Ogunwale to try and find the net. Meanwhile Ramos swapped formations and brought on 18 year-old Ali Taleb to make his first team debut.

“Ali has been training with us for about six months,” Ramos said. “So we’ve been bringing him along and I know he was ready to play in the game. We were going to bring him along regardless because we really wanted to get him some minutes.”

Elvis helped Yonkers leave the building with one final goal in the 82nd. A pass from Jeciel Cedeño on a counter went through the legs of Jonathan Filipe to find Elvis alone on the far side. He slotted a shot into the opposite netting to make it 3-0.

Amoh loves the back of that net. pic.twitter.com/J0fTH01a3S

— Hartford Athletic (@hfdathletic) April 5, 2023

“We have been creating chances and we had not been scoring,” Ramos said about his team in the early USL Championship season. “Fortunately today we were able to score three goals but more importantly we created a ton more chances. So I thought we played pretty well, in particular the first half was pretty good. We played a team that worked really hard and that was a good team and we’re happy to move on.”

Scoring Summary

27’ – Hartford Athletic – Elvis Amoh (Kyle Edwards)
73’ – Hartford Athletic – Elvis Amoh (Penalty)
82’ – Hartford Athletic – Elvis Amoh (Jeciel Cedeño)

Lineups

Hartford Athletic: Joseph Rice (GK), Conor McGlynn, Niall Logue, Robin Lapert (Walid Yacoubou 74′), Beverly Makangila (Ashkanov Apollon 75′), Jeciel Cedeno, Antoine Hoppenot (Jonathan Filipe 74′), Luke Merrill, Kyle Edwards (Danny Barrera 65’), Elvis Amoh, Prince Saydee (Ali Taleb 85′)

Manager: Tab Ramos

Lansdowne Yonkers FC: Clément Anet (GK), Humbert Ferrer, Musa Danso, Edward Speed, Jack Mulhare (Shamir Mullings 45’), Julio Espinal (River Seybolt 79’), Yusuf Mikaheel, Matthew Lynch, Pat McCann (74’), Joseph Devivo, Shaquille Suanchez (Victor Ogunwale 74’), Steven Nolan

Manager: Sean Kelly

Yellow Cards

Jeciel Cedeno, Hartford 51’
Edward Speed, Lansdowne 52’
Musa Danso, Lansdowne 72’

2022 US Open Cup Round 3: NY Red Bulls score early, hold off Hartford Athletic to advance

April 22, 2022 by Eric Casey

More than 5,000 fans came to Dillon Stadium in Hartford, CT to watch the New York Red Bulls take on Hartford Athletic in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Hartford Athletic — More than 5,000 fans came to Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT to watch the New York Red Bulls take on Hartford Athletic in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Hartford Athletic

USL Championship side Hartford Athletics’ U.S Open Cup run came to an end on Wednesday night, as New York Red Bulls defeated the Connecticut-based squad 2-1 at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Conn.

New York Red Bulls dominated the attack in the first half, and first found the net in the 18th minute, when Lewis Morgan snuck a ball inside the post from just outside the box after receiving a pass from Brazilian Midfielder Luquinhas. Aaron Long added a second goal eight minutes later, when he tapped in an initial save from Hartford goalkeeper Jimmy Slayton.

El Capitan. Right place. Right time. https://t.co/v0jcmosHes pic.twitter.com/1tnaAvTGmE

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 21, 2022

Hartford made a number of tactical adjustments and three substitutions in the second half that allowed them to finally get on the offensive. Those adjustments paid off in the 51st minute, when Sierra College product and substitute Conor McGlynn finished a low freekick from 32 year old Colombian (and former TheCup.us Player of the Tournament winner) Danny Barrera. However, Hartford Athletic could not capture this momentum; they ended the game with just four shots compared to New York’s 30. Hartford’s goal marked their only shot on target.

Red Bulls faced a setback in the final minutes of the game when Cristian Cásseres Jr. received a red card for putting his hands to the face of an opponent. He will therefore be unavailable to play in the next round.

This was Hartford’s second appearance in the tournament; they previously made it to the Third Round in 2019 where they were defeated 4-0 by Memphis 901 FC.

With Hartford Athletic’s elimination, New England Revolution will be the sole representative of the New England region when they enter the competition in the Fourth Round.

The Red Bulls will move on to the Fourth Round, where they will travel south to take on fellow MLS side D.C. United, a rival they haven’t played against in Open Cup play since 2006. The game is scheduled to take place on May 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Hartford Athletic takes control late to eliminate Oyster Bay United

April 8, 2022 by Eric Casey

Hartford Athletic Oyster Bay United 2022 US Open Cup — Hartford Athletic players celebrate a goal scored against Oyster Bay United in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Hartford Athletic

Amateur side Oyster Bay United FC’s run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup came to an end Thursday night, as USL Championship side Hartford Athletic patiently marched to a 3-1 victory at rain-soaked Trinity Health Stadium.

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For Hartford, it was their second opening round win in the club’s second appearance in the tournament since joining the USL Championship in 2019.

Oyster Bay went toe-to-toe with Hartford for the duration of the first half, which saw no goals and only a handful of chances. In the 17th minute, Hartford’s Joel Johnson put in a cross that was headed by a Oyster Bay defender to the left foot of Mitchell Curry, who put the ball off the post.

Oyster Bay countered with an attack of their own in the 23rd minute, where a pass from the left side of the box from Sebastin Ruiz fell to the foot of Junior Rosero at the top of the six yard box, but Hartford defender Modou Jadama deflected away the certain goal.

Hartford Athletic would have one more chance right before the halftime whistle, when the Oyster Bay goalkeeper misplayed a cross and it fell to the foot of Mitchell Curr. But Curry was unable to wrangle the bouncing ball and put his shot over the crossbar.

Hartford Athletic finally broke through in the 49th minute, when Johnson headed home a corner kick into the back of the net. The Liberian-born defender joined Hartford Athletic less than a month ago following a six-season stint with the Charlotte Independence.

Hartford’s Walid “Tulu” Yacoubou picked up a yellow card in the 55th minute for needlessly prolonging a throw-in attempt, and nearly picked up another three minutes later when he took down Sebastian Ruiz in the box with a slide tackle. He avoided the second yellow card despite fierce protest from the Oyster Bay players, but the penalty was awarded, and Junior Rosero coolly slotted the ball inside the left post while the keeper guessed right.

The chance of a United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) team upsetting a Championship side remained a distinct possibility until the 70th minute, when Hartford’s Luke Prpa fired a shot that deflected off Oyster Bay goalkeeper Jean Perez into the net. Prpa’s second goal with the club gave Hartford a 2-1 lead, and the hosts never looked back.

MEET THE UNDERDOGS: OYSTER BAY UNITED

Tulu’s earlier yellow card again seemed relevant in the 82nd minute, when he took down Oyster Bay’s Dillon Woods with a standing tackle and then appeared to bounce the ball off Wood’s face. Despite another fierce round of protest from the Oyster Bay players and staff, the official decided to let Tulu off with a stern warning again.

Hartford Athletic cemented their victory in the dying embers of the game with a stoppage-time goal. Rashawn Dally’s slick pass found another Liberian-born player — this time winger Prince Saydee — to go up, 3-1. Saydee joined Hartford from Phoenix Rising FC in the offseason.

“It was a professional performance,” said Hartford head coach Harry Watling. “I have to congratulate our players first of all … halftime, calmness in the locker room. We knew what we needed to do to unlock the opposition. These games are so difficult. We’ve seen the amount of Championship teams that have been knocked out already.”

“I thought we were patient, I thought we broke them down and I was really happy with the second half performance,” added Watling.

With this victory, Hartford Athletic will be the only team from New England in the next phase of the competition, as the New England Revolution will not join the competition until the Fourth Round.

A goal and an assist for @Luka_Prpa in tonight’s 3-1 win earns him Man of the Match Honors 👊👏 pic.twitter.com/4XfHl0HWEo

— Hartford Athletic (@hfdathletic) April 8, 2022

Hartford will learn their Third Round opponent on Friday at Noon. They will be grouped with D.C. United (MLS), FC Motown (NPSL), Flower City Union (NISA), New York Red Bulls (MLS), Rochester NY FC (MLSNP).

Founded in 2018, this victory marked Hartford’s third game in Open Cup competition, and their second-ever win in the competition. The club’s first win came in 2019 when they defeated New York Cosmos B of the NPSL in the Second Round by the score of 2-1 at the University of Hartford. They would fall in the next round, on the road at Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship)

While Oyster Bay was eliminated from the competition, surviving to the second round was an accomplishment for a squad that almost almost ceased to exist just a year ago. Formerly known as Queens Meadow FC, the club nearly folded in the spring of 2021, but a last ditch effort from players and the Long Island Sound community saved the franchise, albeit with a slightly more colorful moniker

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Hartford Athletic edges New York Cosmos to earn club’s first-ever win

May 14, 2019 by Jake Catanese

Nikolaj Lyngø of Hartford Athletic plays the ball against the New York Cosmos B in the Second Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic scored twice in a strong first half performance to claim a 2-1 win for the expansion USL Championship side’s first victory at Al-Marzook Field at the University of Hartford campus.

With the win, Hartford becomes the first professional team from the state of Connecticut to win a US Open Cup game since the Connecticut Wolves (A-League, Div. 2 pro) back in 2001.

For Hartford head coach Jimmy Nielsen, who won the US Open Cup as a player in 2012 with Sporting Kansasa City, the season has been a struggle. After a loss in league play to Memphis 901 over the weekend, the hope is that this win is a sign of things to come.

“I was very disappointed after last week’s performance and I let the players know everyone’s job is on the line here,” said Nielsen. “It’s all about Saturday, you got to get out there and preform and get some results. We’ve struggled to get those results but today was hopefully a little turnaround for us.”

Before Hartford’s first half goals, it was nearly the New York Cosmos B side that scored first in the 10th minute following a corner, but Hartford keeper Jacob Lissek parried the shot off the crossbar and his defense cleared.

In the 16th minute, Hartford’s recent signing Harry Swartz opened the scoring with a smart finish at the back post, slotting home a pass from Giuseppe Gentile. Barely ten minutes later, Hartford won a dangerous free kick that earned Cosmos winger Aaron Dennis a yellow card in the 24th.

On the ensuing free kick, Hartford’s Mads Jorgensen went direct on goal and his bouncing effort eluded Cosmos keeper Santiago Castano at the near post to double Hartford’s lead to 2-0 with the goal officially credited in the 25th minute.

In first half stoppage time, Swartz went looking for his second goal, only to be denied by Castano who eventually claimed the rebound that fell and settled at mouth of the goal. Castano’s second save of the half preserved the 2-0 scoreline going into halftime.

The Cosmos got back into the game near the hour mark, when striker Bljedi Bardic smashed a rocket of a goal into the upper ninety in the 57th minute to cut the defecit to 2-1 Hartford. About ten minutes later, the Cosmos nearly found the equalizer when Daniel Szetela found the crossbar with another tremendous shot only to be denied by the frame.

A late stoppage time flurry from the Cosmos saw Efrain Burgos have a shot deflected out for a corner and Bardic have a shot parried away by Lissek at the near post, but the Cosmos were unable to convert the ensuing corners. Some strong hold up play by Hartford substitute Mac Steeves and strong keeping by Lissek closed out the seven minutes of stoppage time as Hartford claimed a spot in the Third Round against the winner of Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) and New York Red Bulls U-23s (USL League Two).

“ is new for a lot of people, it’s more than 100 years old, this Open Cup, it’s tradition, there’s a good history that’s been made in the past,” said Nielsen. “I know this year it’s not about me, I’ve had the pleasure to win the tournament myself so I know how big it can be. Now we’re probably going to play Memphis in the next round, that was my motivation going into this game, because this past week we had, in my opinion, our worst performance of the year against Memphis and we have a chance to bounce back against them.”

Hartford will be on the road in Round 3 and will play the winner of Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship) and the New York Red Bulls Under-23s (USL League Two) on May 29.