MIAMI – Miami FC plays host to Hartford Athletic on Sunday evening at FIU Stadium in a key game for both sides as they look to push toward the postseason in the Atlantic Division, with Hartford arriving after a notable victory in midweek. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

@TheMiamiFC (9-6-4, 31pts) is on a four-game undefeated streak after playing to a scoreless draw with Austin Bold FC last Saturday night at Bold Stadium. While the game ended without goals, it also saw red cards for both Miami’s Connor Sparrow and Christiano Francois as the visitors ended the game with nine men, with both players suspended for Sunday night’s game. That will likely mean a first start this season for Miami this season for veteran goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre, who came on as a substitute after Sparrow’s dismissal against Austin. Sylvestre had seen action previously this summer, however, making starts for Haiti in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. Miami is three points back of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies for first place in the Atlantic Division going into the weekend’s action and has won its past four outings at FIU Stadium as it returns home after a three-game road trip.

Miami began that road trip against @HFDAthletic (8-6-3, 27pts) as the sides played to a 1-1 draw at Dillon Stadium on August 4. Hartford has found success against the South Florida side this season, however, having taken victory in their prior two meetings this season including a 1-0 win on May 8 that saw Preston Tabort Etaka score the only goal for the visitors at FIU Stadium. The Athletic are coming off an important 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery on Tuesday night that saw Danny Barrera record a goal and assist, with Barrera’s assist moving him into the league lead with eight helpers this season and also marked a landmark with his 40th regular-season assist of his Championship career. Hartford would close within a point of Miami with a win on Sunday night as it looks to boost its postseason chances.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Miami FC 58%, Hartford Athletic 19%, Draw 23%

Most Recent Lineups

Miami FC (4-4-2): Connor Sparrow; Sean McFarlane, Callum Chapman-Page, Paco Craig, Janos Loebe; Jahshaun Anglin, Speedy Williams, Bolu Akinyode, Billy Forbes; Adonijah Reid, Ariel Martinez

Hartford Athletic (4-3-3): Jeff Caldwell; Younes Boudadi, Tulu, Thomas Janjigian, Gabriel Torres; Christian Gomez, Justin Haak, Danny Barrera; Derek Dodson, Juan Carlos Obregon Jr., Darwin Lom

Discipline

Miami FC – Suspended: Connor Sparrow, Christiano Francois

Hartford Athletic – None