Hartford continue a busy week on Wednesday night with yet another installation of El Clamico at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Latics will take on RIFC in a second-round U.S. Open Cup fixture, as the two clubs meet for what is already the sixth time in less than two calendar years; with three more already on the calendar.
It’s a matchup that asks the question ‘can you have too much of a good thing, and at least for Hartford’s manager, the answer appears to be yes
"It’s lost a little bit of its luster,” said Brendan Burke. "It doesn’t make much sense to me.”
The regionalization of both the U.S. Open Cup and the USL Cup all but guarantees the two teams will play additional games each season, but it does make El Clamico start to feel less special Even with Wednesday night being a rivalry game, Burke also reiterated his stance that Hartford’s priority is the USL Championship.
With a game upcoming against a Miami FC team that looks stronger than it has in previous seasons, Hartford will approach the cup with healthy consideration for Saturday as well. Nonetheless, Burke emphasized that Hartford are still taking this game seriously, even if they’re placing more emphasis on the league.
“We always want to progress," the head coach said. "We’re going to put out a team that’s going to be able win the game.”
Burke also pointed out that, even without all of his first-choice squad on the pitch in Pawtucket, the side will be full of players with something to prove and that he fully expects to get the best RIFC have to offer as well:
“There’s guys in the group playing for contracts. There’s going to be amateurs involved on Wednesday. This is as big an opportunity as you could ever hope to get. That’s how I view it, as a huge positive, a huge test, someone’s going to come out of it better off. I hope that each guy treats it that way. And it tells us a lot, this is not trying to go out there and beat an amateur side. This is going to your rival’s home, who haven’t won a game in the league yet. I think we’ll get everything they have.”
Players like Jack Loura, Galen Flynn, Sean Canada and Spencer Gordon are all candidates to see minutes, with the former two looking to secure permanent deals. Flynn in particular would seem to have the most to gain, with no other player on the roster a natural backup for Sebastian Anderson on the right-hand side, a good performance on Wednesday night could well see him lock in a full professional contract for the remainder of the season.
Among the existing professionals, Burke hopes to welcome back Adewale Obalola, who has not played since a nil-nil draw against Birmingham on March 11. Michee Ngalina, who returned to action on Saturday with a 30-minute substitute appearance will also aim to build more minutes in anticipation of a return to full availability over the next couple of games.
Additionally, Hartford have just added another player, Abdullah Taofeek. The Nigerian forward, who just turned 18 in February, is seen by Brendan Burke and the club has very much in the mold of Mamadou Dieng: a talenting youngster who could break out and earn a lucrative move to another level.
It’s believed that Hartford beat out at least one MLS club for his signature, and while there are no guarantees in football, it’s certainly a promising sign that there is already other interest in the player.
On the other side of the pitch, RIFC are off to a stuttering start to the 2026 season, something that has now been a feature of each of Khano Smith’s three seasons at the helm. Given that the previous two campaigns saw the club reach the Eastern Conference finals – winning once – there shouldn’t be too much panic in Pawtucket, but it’s certainly been another discouraging early-season run.
If nothing else, it’s to be hoped that this installation of El Clamico produces more stories on the pitch than off it. Previous editions have tended to give fans – and writers – more to say about what’s happening in the stands and outside the stadium than on the field, and if these clubs are going to play so many times in a season, a better game is not too much to ask for.
