The weekend gets underway with four games tonight, including a national television clash between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and North Carolina FC, but the most intriguing story might be in the Northeast. Here’s your Morning Tea for Friday.
There is always much to do as a new coach tries to instill his training and playing philosophy after taking the reins at a new club.
But for much of what has proven to be an extended preseason for Hartford Athletic under Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi, plenty had to be done through Zoom calls and individual training.
As the Athletic finally get to make their debut for the club’s second season, the former Southampton FC U-23s coach is optimistic that he and his team are positioned to succeed.
“We worked on different aspects, ultimately players understanding,” Jaïdi told the Journal Inquirer’s Adam Betz this week. “But I’m really grateful to have around me a bunch of staff who did everything to support my ideas. Also, we have a bunch of players who showed really good application, and the will and desire to keep themselves going and working hard. Especially, fitness-wise, to get ourselves in this situation.”
A game against the New York Red Bulls II will be a good opening test for Hartford, which has numerous new faces on the field after a disappointing first year. As a perennial playoff side, the Red Bulls II have been particularly good on home turf at MSU Soccer Park, as the Athletic found out last season when they suffered a 4-0 defeat on the road.
If the Athletic can come through with a positive result, however, it will set up a big homecoming on Monday night very nicely, with Loudoun United FC will be the visitor at Dillon Stadium. With 25 percent of the venue expected to be open for fans, and ESPN2 carrying the game nationally, Jaïdi is hopeful of showing Hartford’s fans what his side is capable of.
“It’s so exciting,” Jaïdi told Betz. “The presence of the fans will give a boost for us and the players. We’ve missed the fans since the start of the preseason. We had the pandemic as a setback that kept us all time away of the fans and of the Dillon. So, having them in Dillon would be really exciting for us, would be an opportunity to showcase all the preparation we’ve been doing since last February.”
Look at the legendary Rowdies we will have in the crowd tomorrow night for our game against @NorthCarolinaFC at 6:00 PM on #ESPN2. pic.twitter.com/76sJUX5EmK
— Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) July 16, 2020
The Olympics may be postponed, but that doesn’t mean the preparation stops.
— Austin Bold FC (@AustinBoldFC) July 16, 2020
#DaleBold pic.twitter.com/mOcZIsMjwP
Hey @ochocinco,
— FC Tulsa (@FCTulsa) July 16, 2020
Let us know where to send you a personalized FC Tulsa kit as a thank you for catching some of our match on Monday.
Love your friends and fellow @McDonalds fans,
atFCTulsa https://t.co/F8fLO4Wmji pic.twitter.com/YhFE3Lm8Aq
- Friday night's scheduled between Rio Grande Valley FC and San Antonio FC was postponed on Thursday night, with the decision made out of an abundance of caution following one of RGV FC's covered persons testing positive for COVID-19. A new date for the postponed match will be made public as soon as it is available.
- Birmingham Legion FC’s win on Wednesday night provided a statement game for the hosts, and even attracted the attention of current Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards, tuned in to watch the professional debut of Jaden Servania, a fellow alum of the FC Dallas Academy.
- Phoenix Rising FC took a second-half lead on the road against Orange County SC looking for a third consecutive win to start the season. OCSC's Kevin Coleman produced an equalizer, however, to leave honors even and Phoenix level on points at the top of Group B with San Diego Loyal SC.
- Whatever walk of life or profession, mental health is a serious issue faced by many people. Rio Grande Valley FC’s Ben Willis spoke with the Beautiful Game Network’s Carson Merk about his battle with anxiety, and what made him decide to start receiving help to reduce its effects.
- The Tampa Bay Rowdies are looking to notch their first three-game winning streak to start a season since 2017 when they host North Carolina FC on Friday night. The Tampa Bay Times' Kyle Wood caught up with the side ahead of the game at Al Lang Stadium that will air on ESPN2.
- Sacramento Republic FC welcomes Reno 1868 FC to Papa Murphy’s Park on Sunday night on ESPN2 in the renewal of a rivalry that has become one of the best in the Championship. The Sacramento Bee’s Cameron Salerno looked ahead to what should be another compelling contest between the clubs.
- Louisville City FC Head Coach John Hackworth emphasized the importance of Saturday’s first Kings’ Cup meeting of the season with Saint Louis FC when he met with media this week, with both sides sitting behind Indy Eleven in the Group E standings after last weekend’s results.
- San Diego Loyal SC’s clash with the LA Galaxy II will air on ESPN Deportes this Sunday, but the game will also be broadcast locally on the CW San Diego with a broadcast team including former U.S. Women’s National Team member Shannon MacMillan and play-by-play voice Jack Cronin. The club will also feature a half-hour pregame and post-game show that will air on Facebook Live with Jordan Carruth and Darren Smith.
- We’ve seen some great displays of fans images in the stands for El Paso Locomotive FC and Phoenix Rising FC home games so far since action resumed in the USL Championship, and Las Vegas Lights FC is getting in on the action as well. Lights FC announced on Thursday the opportunity for fans to upload photos what will be mounted on life-size cutouts and be placed in the stands at Cashman Field this season.