After coming back from a 1-0 deficit, Hartford Athletic lost a one-goal lead in stoppage time to fall 3-2 to NYCFC II in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Hartford Athletic controlled possession and attacking play throughout the first half, putting four shots on target and recording 20 touches in New York’s box. The Green and Blue nearly took the lead in the first five minutes of the match after creating back to back chances. Ian Shaul forced a turnover at midfield and played a quality ball forward to Enoch Mushagalusa, but his shot from the top of the box was saved by a sprawling Tomás Romero. Mamadou Dieng headed a cross from Mushagalusa into the net a minute later, but he was called offside and the goal was waved off.
Continuing to pressure the visitors, Hartford had another prime chance created by Mushagalusa in the 21st minute. Weaving through defenders in the box, he fired a shot that was blocked off the line by Matthew Leong. The rebound fell to Ian Shaul with an open look on goal, but his shot went wide of the target.
Hartford spread the wealth of their chances in the half, as Dieng totaled six shots, Mushagalusa attempted three, and Shaul took two. The back line kept New York quiet in Hartford’s third, holding them to just six touches in the box and allowing 0 shots on target.
After little chance creation in the first half, New York took advantage of their first true threat of the match and broke through to score in the 63rd minute. Jonathan Jimenez-Vargas made a run into Hartford’s box in transition and drew Paul Walters out of his net, laid the ball off to Taylor Calheira, and Calheira finished on the open net to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Hartford upscaled their attacking efforts after conceding and brought on Romario Williams, Deshane Beckford, and Marcus Epps. In the 79th minute, Williams drew a penalty after dangling through defenders and getting tripped by Alexander Hauschild in the box. Williams took the PK himself and buried it to the right side to lift Hartford level at 1-1. The score remained tied at the end of regulation, sending the match into extra time.
The Green and Blue took the first punch in the additional period when Deshane Beckford scored on an excellent individual effort. He chased down a lead ball in the final third, created space in the box, and powered his shot into the bottom right corner past Romero.
Hartford’s extra time lead was short lived. Just seven minutes later in the 99th minute, Calheira found the back of the net once again, squaring his header past Paul Walters off a well-delivered cross from Jonathan Jimenez. The first period of extra time ended tied 2-2.
Four minutes into the second half, Maximo Carrizo netted the game winning goal for the visitors. He targeted an empty net off of a deflected ball by Hartford goalkeeper Paul Walters. With just 11 minutes left in extra time, NYCFCII led Hartford 3-2.
Hartford were unable to create another scoring chance as the final minutes approached, and three red cards were assessed between both teams. Overall, the score was left unchanged and Hartford fell to New York 3-2.
Hartford Athletic return to their USL Championship schedule this Saturday, April 20th against San Antonio FC at 5:00pm. Tickets are available at hartfordathletic.com/tickets.
FAST STATS
Shots (On-Target): Hartford 23(9) NYCFCII 18 (6)
Corners: Hartford 8 NYCFCII 4
Fouls: Hartford 14 NYCFCII 17
Offsides: Hartford 4 NYCFCII 2
Possession: Hartford 56.6% NYCFCII 43.4%
Passing Accuracy: Hartford 86.8% NYCFCII 80.8%
Saves: Hartford 3 NYCFCII 6
SCORING SUMMARY:
NYCFCII 63’ – Calheira (Jimenez)
Hartford 81’ – Williams
Hartford 92’ – Beckford (Williams)
NYCFCII 99’ – Calheira (Jimenez)
NYCFC 109’ – Carrizo
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
Hartford:
90’+ – Williams (Yellow)
90’+ – Bench (Yellow)
114’ – Schmidt (Yellow)
119’ – Asiedu (Yellow)
90’+ – Hartford Assistant Coach (Red)
130’+ – Epps (Red)
130’+ – Beckford (Red)
NYCFCII:
71’- Carrizo (Yellow)
79’ – Hauschild (Yellow)
90’+ – Elias (Yellow)
130’+ – Roshansky (Yellow)
130’+ – Tiao (Red)
HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP
25 (GK) Paul Walters, 19 (DF) Rece Buckmaster, 23 (DF) Thomas Vancaeyezeele (5 Triston Hodge – 64’), 3 (DF) Joey Akpunonu (15 Joe Farrell – 64’), 6 (MF) Beverly Makangila (Injury substitution: 12 Asiedu – 90’+), 29 (MF) Emmanuel Samadia, 18 (MF) Joe Schmidt, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (31 Deshane Beckford – 67’), 43 (MF) Ian Shaul (9 Romario Williams – 71’), 33 (FW) Mamadou Dieng, 77 (FW) Enoch Mushagalusa (7 Marcus Epps – 67’)
NYCFCII STARTING LINEUP
30 (GK) Tomas Romero, 61 (DF) Alexander Hauschild, 38 (DF) Andrew Baiera, 63 (DF) Matthew Leong, 18 (DF) Christian McFarlane (68 Christopher Tian-Long Tiao 64’), 42 (MF) Piero Elias (37 Steven Bednarsky – 103’), 32 (MF) Jonathan Shore (67 Adam Basse – 117’), 29 (FW) Maximo Carrizo, 99 (FW) Taylor Calheira, 74 (FW) Ronald Arevalo (70 Jake Rozhansky 64’), 77 (FW) Jonathan Jimenez Vargas
HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP
25 (GK) Paul Walters, 19 (DF) Rece Buckmaster, 23 (DF) Thomas Vancaeyezeele Hodge, 64’); 3 (DF) Joey Akpunonu (15 Joe Farrell, 64’); 6 (MF) Beverly Makangila (Asiedu, 90+); 29 (MF) Emmanuel Samadia, 18 (MF) Joe Schmidt, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (Beckford 67’); 43 (MF) Ian Shaul (Williams, 71’); 33 (FW) Mamadou Dieng, 77 (FW) Enoch Mushagalusa (Epps, 67’)
NYCFCII STARTING LINEUP
30 (GK) Tomas Romero, 61 (DF) Alexander Hauschild, 38 (DF) Andrew Baiera, 63 (DF) Matthew Leong, 18 (DF) Christian McFarlane (68 Christopher Tian-Long Tiao 64’), 42 (MF) Piero Elias (37 Steven Bednarsky – 103’), 32 (MF) Jonathan Shore (67 Adam Basse – 117’), 29 (FW) Maximo Carrizo, 99 (FW) Taylor Calheira, 74 (FW) Ronald Arevalo (70 Jake Rozhansky 64’), 77 (FW) Jonathan Jimenez Vargas
