Hartford Athletic hit the road again for a second-round playoff game against Charleston Battery on Saturday night. It’s the third meeting between the two clubs this season, with Hartford claiming a 2-1 victory at Patriot’s Point before being held to a 1-1 draw at home in the concluding weeks of the season.
Last weekend, Hartford needed a little luck in their first-round game against Detroit City. A terrible red card for Kobe Foster-Hernandeza and a point-blank miss by Cheikhou Niang were defining moments in a game that very easily could have gone against the Latics. As it was, two Sadat Anaku goals were enough to see them claim their first playoff win in club history.
Whereas Hartford perhaps had a psychological edge heading into that game – it had never lost a regulation game to Detroit since the arrival of Brendan Burke ahead of the 2024 season – the story against Charleston is not so rosy. In six games over the last three years, the Latics have just one win against the Battery, the one that came earlier this season. Overall, Charleston have won 10 of the 16 meetings between the two clubs, with Hartford winning just four. That 25% win ratio against the Battery is the worst for the Latics among all seven clubs that they have played at least 10 times.
And Hartford are playing a Charleston team that just shook off a playoff jinx of its own. After exiting the playoffs at the hands of RIFC for two consecutive years, the Battery were staring down the barrel of adding a third loss, trailing 1-nil as the game hit extra time in the second half. It was Miguel Berry to the rescue, however, as he found the back of the net in the fourth minute of extra time to haul his side back into the game. Extra time was scoreless, and Charleston ultimately prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
After coming out rather flat in that game – Charleston were outshot 10-1 in the first half – they roared back in the second half and Hartford will need to be attuned to the intensity of their opposition on Saturday night. If Battery come out flat again, Hartford will need to seize the moment and press for the opener. If the Battery come out on fire, Hartford will need to match their level or potentially find itself in serious trouble. It’s a big ask for a team that rarely scores early – just one goal in the first 15 minutes of a league game this season – but it’s critical to bring the heat if they hope to add another playoff win in 2026.
One big question for Hartford heading into this game is the health of Sadat Anaku. Four goals in his last three games, including the brace last weekend, have him as the hot hand for Hartford at the moment, but he was pulled off with an injury almost immediately after his second goal in Detroit. Luckily for the Latics, he trained fully this week and is expected to play.
Hartford will also hope to see more of Samuel Careaga, who made another substitute appearance last weekend. The midfielder is still not at 100%, but continues to build fitness, and could potentially be available for more than the half hour he has been able to give so far. He’s another player who has the ability to break a game open, and the Latics may very well need every minute he can provide on Saturday night.
Whoever plays, nothing has changed about the playoffs. They’re still a coin flip. A foolish decision that earns a red card can totally change a game. A moment of magic from one player can be the difference.
Charleston are certainly favorites in this one, but if last weekend showed anything, it’s that nothing is decided before the first whistle. Hartford may need a little bit of luck again to advance but if it approaches this game with the right mentality, it can certainly make its own luck.
