Hartford Athletic
The Hartford Athletic match against Indy Eleven which was postponed has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd at Trinity Health Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7:30 PM. All tickets for the April 12th match will be valid for the rescheduled date and this match will still be a $2 Beer $1 Hot Dog Night presented by Modelo. If you have any questions about your tickets, please visit hartfordathletic.com/tickets or contact us at tickets@hartfordathletic.com.
HARTFORD, CT (April 19, 2025) – A goal in the 71st minute off the foot of Deshane Beckford proved to be the difference in the match as Hartford Athletic got its first win of the season, 1-0 over Birmingham Legion. This is the third match in a row that Hartford has come away with points against Birmingham.
Hartford’s start in attack was its strongest of the season, surpassing season averages in shots, shots on target, and crosses all in the first half. Emmanuel Samadia in particular was a focal point of the attack delivering ball after ball into the Birmingham box. He and midfielder Samuel Careaga, who played in his first game since picking up an injury in the season opener, generated a number of chances for Mamadou Dieng and Kyle Edwards but the forward pairing were unable to take advantage of the opportunities.
Hartford continued to apply pressure in the second half and in the 71st minute, the pressure broke the Legion defense. Hartford’s press caused a turnover in Birmingham’s box. After deflecting off a few players, Dieng corralled the loose ball, laid it off for Beckford who put it on frame. Goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel’s got his hands on the shot, but the deflection bounced into the net to give Hartford the lead.
Hartford returns to action next Saturday, April 26th at Trinity Health Stadium at 4 PM when they take on Portland Hearts of Pine in the first ever match up in the USL Jaegermeister Cup. Tickets are available now at hartfordathletic.com/tickets.
| HARTFORD | BIRMINGHAM | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 11 | 8 |
| Shots On Target | 5 | 1 |
| Corners | 8 | 8 |
| Fouls | 13 | 11 |
| Offsides | 1 | 0 |
| Possession | 46.8% | 53.2% |
| Passing Accuracy | 89.6% | 88.9% |
| Saves | 1 | 4 |
| HARTFORD | BIRMINGHAM |
|---|---|
| 71′ – Deshane Beckford (Mamadou Dieng) |
| HARTFORD | BIRMINGHAM |
|---|---|
| 90+4′ – Emmanuel Samadia (Yellow) | 34′ – Danny Trejo (Yellow) |
| 44′ – Ramiz Hamouda (Yellow) | |
| 45+4′ – Eric Avila (Yellow) | |
| 66′ – Jake Rufe (Yellow) |
| HARTFORD | BIRMINGHAM |
|---|---|
| 77 (GK) Antony Siaha | 1 (GK) Matt Van Oekel |
| 2 (DF) Sebastian Anderson | 11 (DF) Dawson McCartney |
| 22 (DF) TJ Presthus | 13 (DF) Jake Rufe |
| 15 (DF) Joe Farrell | 4 (DF) Ramiz Hamouda |
| 4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C) | 33 (DF) Moses Mensah (Santiago Suarez, 90+3′) |
| 19 (DF) Emmanuel Samadia | 15 (MF) Tyler Pasher (Sebastian Tregarthen, 56′) |
| 27 (MF) Justin Ingram (Adewale Obalola, 53′) | 8 (MF) Koby Hernandez Foster |
| 10 (MF) Samuel Careaga | 6 (MF) Sam McIllhatton (Roman Torres, 79′) |
| 8 (MF) Junior Moreira | 19 (MF) Enzo Martinez (C) |
| 71 (FW) Kyle Edwards (Deshane Beckford, 67′) | 7 (MF) Danny Trejo (Preston Tabort Etaka, 79′) |
| 9 (FW) Mamadou Dieng | 9 (FW) Ronaldo Damus |
WHEN: Saturday, April 19, 4 PM
WHERE: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
PROMOTION: $1000 Cash Giveaway, Dillon’s Egg Hunt
BUY TICKETS: Click here
While Hartford holds an all-time record of 2-4-2 against Legion FC, last year was a very successful year for Athletic with a win and a draw in two matchups. The Boys in Green won the first matchup between the two 1-0, off a goal from Michee Ngalina in the 23rd minute. The second fixture, a 2-2 draw in Birmingham saw a great comeback from Hartford as Mamadou Dieng and Ngalina each scored in the final 18 minutes of the match to level the score and steal a point away from home.
Legion forward Preston Tabort Etaka makes his return to Hartford on Saturday. Preston played 26 games for Hartford in 2021, scoring four goals and adding five assists. The speedy winger’s most notable moment was the game winning goal off a beautiful backheel pass from Danny Barrera, curling it into the upper lefthand corner to take the lead.
Last match with Loudoun United left Hartford a little worse for wear. Michee Ngalina left the game after just 18 minutes, pulling up with a hamstring injury while chasing down a ball in the Loudoun end. To make matters worse, midfielder Marlon Hairston also came off in stoppage time of the first half with a lower body injury. Ngalina and Hairston had both played every minute of USL Championship play to that moment and neither will play this weekend. Adding insult to injury were the two red cards picked up by starters Arturo Diz Pe and Beverly Makangila who will both miss Saturday’s match.
The 2025 season has been a turbulent one for Birmingham Legion FC. After starting the campaign winless in their first four league matches (0-2-2) and suffering an early exit from the U.S. Open Cup at the hands of USL League Two side Little Rock Rangers, the club made the significant decision to part ways with longtime head coach Tom Soehn on April 9. Soehn, who had been at the helm since the team’s inception in 2019, led the Legion to playoff appearances in each of his first five seasons. However, the team’s recent struggles prompted the change, with assistant coach Eric Avila stepping in as interim head coach. Under Avila’s leadership, the team is aiming to revitalize its season and climb the Eastern Conference standings. Birmingham picked up a 3-1 win over El Paso in Avila’s first match on Sunday.
Hartford Athletic – Samuel Careaga, MF, #10
Careaga, a 22-year-old Argentine talent, joined Hartford on loan from Atlético Lanús in January. He previously showcased his offensive prowess with Memphis 901 FC, contributing ten goals and three assists over 39 appearances in the 2024 season. After making a substitute appearance in Hartford’s season opener, Careaga has been sidelined but is now expected to return to the lineup. Head coach Brendan Burke expressed optimism about his involvement, noting that Careaga’s presence could provide the creativity in the final third that the team has been lacking. With Hartford seeking their first league win, Careaga’s ability to orchestrate play and generate scoring opportunities could be instrumental in shifting the team’s momentum.
Birmingham Legion – Enzo Martínez, MF, #19
Martínez has consistently been a thorn in Hartford’s side, delivering standout performances in past encounters. Notably, in April 2023, he recorded two goals and an assist in a 3-2 victory over Hartford, earning him the USL Championship Player of the Week honors. He also found the net in their most recent meeting last August, contributing to a 2-2 draw. As Birmingham’s all-time leading scorer, Martínez’s vision, creativity, and knack for clutch performances make him a central figure in the Legion’s attack. With Hartford seeking their first win of the season, containing Martínez will be crucial to their defensive strategy.
Unfortunately due to the weather and field conditions, today’s match has been postponed. The match will be rescheduled to a later date. More information on a reschedule date will be provided as soon as it is available. All tickets for today’s match will be valid for the rescheduled date.
Hartford Athletic comes back home to Trinity Health Stadium for the first of a three game home stand on Saturday afternoon. The Boys in Green are looking to pick up their first win of the season but Indy comes in with a high-powered offense with eight goals on the season. Keep reading to learn more about this weekend’s match up:
WHEN: Saturday, April 12th, 2:00 PM
WHERE: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
TICKETS: Click Here
One bright spot for Hartford has been the play up the wings from Emmanuel Samadia and Sebastian Anderson. Samadia, who was signed to a contract extension near the end of the 2024 season, now leads the team in chances created with 5 and Anderson, who comes in second with 4 chances created, also leads the team in Tackles and Duels won. Anderson has also played all 360 minutes available in USL Championship play. Captain Jordan Scarlett and GK Antony Siaha are the only other players to reach that mark.
Hartford Athletic have failed to win their last five matches when conceding first, dating back to an October 19th when they knocked off FC Tulsa on the road. In that game, Hartford conceded in the 9th minute but were the beneficiaries of an own goal in the 24th minute and a game winner from Forward Kyle Edwards in the 80th minute. Since then, Hartford has lost five matches when conceding first, starting with the season finale at Orange County last season.
Last Saturday’s match with Loudoun United left Hartford a little worse for wear. Michee Ngalina left the game after just 18 minutes, pulling up with a hamstring injury while chasing down a ball in the Loudoun end. To make matters worse, midfielder Marlon Hairston also came off in stoppage time of the first half with a lower body injury. Ngalina and Hairston had both played every minute of USL Championship play to that moment and neither will play this weekend. Adding insult to injury were the two red cards picked up by starters Arturo Diz Pe and Beverly Makangila who will both miss Saturday’s match.
Indy Eleven’s 2025 season has been a mix of promising performances and challenging setbacks. Under head coach Sean McAuley, the team kicked off with a strong 3-1 victory over Miami FC on March 15, featuring goals from Jack Blake, Aodhan Quinn, and newcomer Patrick Hogan. However, subsequent matches have been less consistent, including a 1-1 draw with Lexington SC, a 3-2 home loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and a 2-2 draw against North Carolina FC. Currently, Indy Eleven sits 7th in the Eastern Conference, with Aodhan Quinn leading the team in scoring with two goals.
Hartford – Emmanuel Samadia, DF, #19
Emmanuel Samadia has emerged as a key figure for Hartford Athletic in the 2025 season. Since joining the club, the Sierra Leonean midfielder has brought international experience and versatility to Hartford’s midfield. With 25 appearances for the club and 15 caps for the Sierra Leone national team, Samadia’s defensive prowess and ability to disrupt opposing plays have been instrumental in Hartford’s midfield stability. His consistent performances and leadership on the field make him a pivotal player in Hartford’s strategy to challenge Indy Eleven.
Indy – Jack Blake, MF, #8
Jack Blake stands out as Indy Eleven’s key player to watch in the upcoming match against Hartford Athletic. The veteran midfielder has demonstrated a strong start to the 2025 season, contributing both a goal and an assist in his initial appearances . Notably, Blake opened the season by converting a penalty kick in the third minute of a 3-1 victory over Miami FC, marking his seventh consecutive successful penalty conversion. His consistent performance and leadership on the field make him a pivotal figure in Indy’s offensive strategy, as most sides this season have struggled to contain him.
Hartford Athletic announced today that the Club has signed midfielder Justin Ingram to a 25-day contract, pending league and federation approval. Ingram joins Hartford after most recently playing with Las Vegas Lights FC.
“We’re excited to welcome Justin to the group,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He’s a versatile midfielder who brings high energy and good quality on the ball. His experience in the league will help us immediately as we navigate a busy stretch of the season.”
Ingram, 25, began his professional career in 2022 with Indy Eleven in the USL Championship, where he made 30 appearances and earned a spot on the USL Championship Team of the Week twice during his rookie campaign. He most recently featured for Las Vegas Lights FC where he made 26 appearances across all competitions.
Prior to his professional career, Ingram played collegiately at the University of Virginia and Loyola University Maryland, where he was a standout performer and team captain. A technically gifted central midfielder, Ingram is known for his vision, passing range, and ability to break lines in possession.
Hartford Athletic returns to action at 2 PM this Saturday at Trinity Health Stadium when they take on Justin’s old club, Indy Eleven. Tickets are on sale at hartfordathletic.com
LEESBURG, VA (April 5, 2025) – Two second half goals for the home side were the difference in a 2-0 victory for Loudoun United over Hartford Athletic on Saturday afternoon. Keegan Tingey hit a beautiful ball to the lower left hand corner past a diving Antony Siaha to give Loudoun the lead early in the second and Riley Bidois doubled the lead in stoppage time to seal the game.
Injury was added to insult twice in the first half. Forward Michee Ngalina left the game in just the 17th minute with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and midfielder Marlon Hairston subbed off during the first half of stoppage time with a lower body injury. Timelines for return are to be determined.
Hartford Athletic returns home next Saturday to take on Indy Eleven. Kickoff is at 2 PM. Tickets are available at hartfordathletic.com/tickets.
| HARTFORD | LOUDOUN | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 6 | 12 |
| Shots On Target | 1 | 4 |
| Corners | 3 | 9 |
| Fouls | 15 | 11 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
| Possession | 31.5% | 68.5% |
| Passing Accuracy | 76.7% | 89.6% |
| Saves | 2 | 1 |
| HARTFORD | LOUDOUN |
|---|---|
| 51′ – Keegan Tingey (Florian Valot) | |
| 90+3′ – Riley Bidois (Aaron Hurge) |
| HARTFORD | LOUDOUN |
|---|---|
| 45+2′ – Mamadou Dieng (Yellow) | 55′ – Pedro Santos (Yellow) |
| 66′ – Deshane Beckford (Yellow) | 90+3′ – Wesley Leggett (Yellow) |
| 69′ – Arturo Diz Pe (Red) | |
| 86′ – Beverly Makangila (Yellow) | |
| 90+3′ – Beverly Makangila (Yellow – Red) |
| HARTFORD | LOUDOUN |
|---|---|
| 77 (GK) Antony Siaha | 23 (GK) Hugo Faux |
| 2 (DF) Sebastian Anderson | 6 (DF) Kwame Awuah (Ethan Pendelton, 87′) |
| 15 (DF) Joe Farrell | 24 (DF) Jacob Erlandson |
| 30 (DF) Arturo Diz Pe | 17 (DF) Pedro Santos (Josh Erlandson, 90+2′) |
| 4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C) | 3 (DF) Keegan Tingey |
| 19 (DF) Emmanuel Samadia | 4 (MF) Tommy McCabe |
| 94 (MF) Marlon Hairston (Deshane Beckford, 45′) | 12 (MF) Drew Skundrich (C) |
| 6 (MF) Beverly Makangila | 11 (MF) Abellatif Aboukoura (Aaron Hurge, 87′) |
| 8 (MF) Junior Moreira | 10 (MF) Florian Valot |
| 11 (FW) Michee Ngalina (Jonathan Jimenez, 17′) (Adewale Obalola, 70′) | 20 (FW) Ben Mines (Wesley Leggett, 60′) |
| 9 (FW) Mamadou Dieng (Kyle Edwards, 70′) | 14 (FW) Zach Ryan (Riley Bidois, 60′) |
USL play resumes on Saturday afternoon as Hartford Athletic head to northern Virginia to take on Loudoun United in an Eastern Conference clash. Loudoun is off to a hot start to the 2025 season with a record of 3-1-0 and sit 2nd on the Eastern Conference table. Hartford looks to pick up their first win of the season at Segra Field.
WHEN: Saturday, April 5th, 4:30 PM
WHERE: Segra Field, Leesburg, VA
WATCH: WCTX MyTV9, wtnh.com or ESPN+
Hartford Athletic and Loudoun United have played each other 16 times since entering the league in 2019. It’s the most common opponent in club history for Athletic and one of the most successful with an all-time record of 11-4-1. The northern Virginia side has flipped the script in recent meetings, taking the last three meetings in the series and the last three matchups at Segra Field.
Brendan Burke brought back a core of nine players from the 2024 squad and he has relied heavily on those players to start the 2025 campaign. Jordan Scarlett, Marlon Hairston, Michee Ngalina, and Mamadou Dieng have all played the full 270 USL Championship minutes through the season’s first three games, as has right back Sebastian Anderson who has extensive history with Burke. All five of these players played at least 90 minutes in the Open Cup on Wednesday night and all but Hairston played the full 30 minutes of extra time.
Jonathan Jimenez was voted by Hartford Athletic fans as the Lux Bond and Green Player of the Month for March. Jimenez started all 3 USL Championship matches and logged an assist in the home opener against El Paso. Jimenez also started and recorded an assist in the 3-0 U.S. Open Cup victory over the New York Shockers.
Portland Hearts of Pine are a brand new expansion franchise from Portland, ME. They’ll be playing their home games at Fitzpatrick Stadium, 6,300 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium in Portland, but this match is being played a bit further north at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, ME. Hearts first ever official competition was their first round matchup in the Open Cup, a 4-0 victory over CD Faialense. Hearts kicked off their USL League One slate this past Saturday against top of the table FC Naples and played to a 0-0 draw.
Hartford – Michee Ngalina, FW, #11
While the attack has been slow to get started at the beginning of the season, there’s no player better suited to jumpstart it than Ngalina. The former USL Championship Young Player of the Year has the ability to completely take over a game or flip it on its head at a moment’s notice and that’s what Hartford needs at a moment like this. Using his speed on the wings to put pressure on the Loudoun defense and open up opportunities for others will be a key component of Hartford’s ability to take home some points on the road.
Loudoun – Pedro Santos, MF, #17
Rare is it that a player who was very recently signed to a 25-day contract is the player to watch, but Pedro Santos has an astounding resume and brings great experience to this Loudoun squad. The 36-year-old veteran has experience playing in leagues such as the Primeira League with S.C. Braga and for MLS clubs Columbus Crew and, most recently, D.C. United. Throughout his professional career, the Portuguese native has made over 400 club appearances, recording 80 goals, as well as two appearances for the U19 Portuguese National Team.
LEWISTON, ME (April 2, 2025) – Hartford’s U.S. Open Cup run came to an end on Wednesday night, losing on the road to Portland Hearts of Pine in a penalty shootout.
After 90 minutes of scoreless play, things took a turn in extra time. In just six minutes of extra time, Portland forward Azaad Liadi picked up two yellow cards and was dismissed from the match. Hartford played the remainder of stoppage time up a man. Portland were able to make it through the remaining nine minutes of the first period of extra time without conceding, but at the beginning of the second fifteen minutes of play, Hartford broke through. Jordan Scarlett elevated in the box on an in swinging ball from Emmanuel Samadia and headed the ball over the line to give Hartford the lead in the 107th minute. Nine minutes later, Portland answered off the foot of Jake Keegan who chipped Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha and got a miracle bounce into the net to tie the game and send the game into penalty kicks.
In PKs, both teams came out firing, converting their first two attempts. But Sebastian Anderson and Michee Ngalina were unable to convert the next two tries for Hartford, while Portland’s tries both found the back of the net.
Hartford will hit the road on Saturday to take on Loudoun United and will return home the following Saturday April 12th to take on Indy Eleven. Tickets are available now, visit hartfordathletic.com/tickets for more information.
| HARTFORD | PORTLAND | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 20 | 14 |
| Shots On Target | 6 | 5 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
| Fouls | 21 | 14 |
| Offsides | 5 | 1 |
| Possession | 47.5% | 52.5% |
| Passing Accuracy | 71.3% | 76.1% |
| Saves | 4 | 5 |
| HARTFORD | PORTLAND |
|---|---|
| 107′ – Jordan Scarlett (Emmanuel Samadia) | 116′ – Jake Keegan (Evan Southern) |
| HARTFORD | PORTLAND |
|---|---|
| 42′ – Beverly Makangila (Yellow) | 75′ – Titus Washington (Yellow) |
| 67′ – Jordan Scarlett (Yellow) | 93′ – Azaad Liadi (Yellow) |
| 93′ – Joe Farrell (Yellow) | 96′ – Azaad Liadi (Yellow, Red) |
| 116′ – Deshane Beckford (Yellow) |
| HARTFORD | PORTLAND |
|---|---|
| 77 (GK) Antony Siaha | 1 (GK) Hunter Morse |
| 2 (DF) Sebastian Anderson | 3 (DF) Nathan Messer |
| 15 (DF) Joe Farrell | 66 (DF) Kemali Green (Samuel Mahlamäki, 45′) |
| 30 (DF) Arturo Diz Pe | 7 (DF) Sean Vinberg (Jake Keegan, 113′) |
| 4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C) | 2 (DF) Jaden Jones-Riley |
| 19 (DF) Emmanuel Samadia | 10 (MF) Ollie Wright |
| 94 (MF) Marlon Hairston (TJ Presthus, 90′) | 8 (MF) Michael Poon-Angeron (Michael Riley, 105′) |
| 6 (MF) Beverly Makangila (Jonathan Jimenez, 117′) | 6 (MF) Patrick Langlois |
| 11 (FW) Michee Ngalina | 22 (MF) Walter Varela (Evan Southern, 76′) |
| 9 (FW) Mamadou Dieng | 14 (FW) Titus Washington (Mikey Lopez, 76′) |
| 71 (FW) Kyle Edwards (Deshane Beckford, 66′) | 9 (FW) Azaad Liadi |
