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Matchday Report: Hartford Ends Miami’s Hot Streak with Victory

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 07/24/21, 9:14PM EDT

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Barrera assists goals in either half as hosts take 2-0 victory at Dillon Stadium

HARTFORD, Conn. – Goals in either half by Alex Lara and Conor McGlynn sent Hartford Athletic to a 2-0 victory against Miami FC on Saturday night at Dillon Stadium as the hosts got a pair of assist by Danny Barrera in ending Miami’s three-game winning streak.

Looking to rebound from its last outing, Hartford almost produced a stunning start from the opening kickoff as Barrera curled a pass upfield for Sebastian Elney, who took off after playing the ball back to open the game, allowing the forward to try and lob advancing Miami goalkeeper Connor Sparrow as the ball arrived in the right side of the penalty area, only for the effort to go wide. Sparrow had to make an early save in the seventh minute, though, as the Athletic continued to make the early going with a corner routine that Jeciel Cedeno sent on target from a narrow angle on the right.

Barrera also tried an effort from outside the penalty area that Sparrow was equal to inside the opening 15 minutes, while Miami’s Callum Chapman-Page had the first real chance for the visitors but sent his header off a corner by Pierre Da Silva from the left wide of the right post.

The Athletic took the league on the half-hour mark, however, as after sending a free kick from just outside the top-right edge of the penalty area into the defensive wall, Barrera quickly lifted the ball back into the penalty area where Alex Lara tapped home from close range.

Miami had a chance to pull level six minutes later as a low cross from the left was punched into the center of the penalty area by Hartford goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell in the vicinity of Ariel Martinez, who couldn’t control his cushioned volley and sent the ball wide of the right post. The visitors went close again nine minutes into the second half as well, but Christiano Francois’ close range effort was closed down by Athletic defender Tulu, whose sliding block sent the ball over the crossbar.

Hartford doubled its advantage midway through the second half, however, as a cross from the right by Younes Boudadi was headed out to Barrera, who controlled and sent a backheeled pass to Conor McGlynn for a first-time shot from 25 yards that picked out the bottom-left corner of the net.

Miami almost got a spectacular goal of its own to answer with 19 minutes to go as Ariel Martinez curled a free kick from the right side toward the near post, forcing a diving save from Caldwell. The hosts then  had a pair of chances to add a third only for both Elney and Preston Tabort Etaka to fired off target from inside the penalty area, but while Miami had a late chance to pull a goal back through Francois that was saved by Caldwell, the hosts saw out the win to move level on points with Miami in the Atlantic Division standings.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic – Barrera assisted on both goals – moving into third place in the Championship’s regular-season ranking in the process – and had six key passes while completing 43 of 53 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
HFD
– Alex Lara (Danny Barrera) 30’
HFD – Conor McGlynn (Danny Barrera) 67’

Full Box Score

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