Hartford Athletic Crash Out of U.S. Open Cup
Latics left to rue missed opportunities as they fall 3-2 to NYCFC II
On a cold and rainy night, Hartford were made to pay the price for a failure to take advantage of early dominance, falling to NYCFC II in the first game in club history to go to extra time. Goals from second half substitutes Deshane Beckford and Romario WIlliams were not enough and by the time the game descended into chaos at the end of the second period of extra time, the Baby Blues had done enough to secure their advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
The opening minutes were virtually one-way traffic as the Latics pressed forward from the first whistle. Enoch Mushagalusa and Mamadou Dieng both had excellent opportunities to put Hartford ahead inside five minutes but neither was able to convert. Dieng could possibly have had a hat-trick inside ten minutes as more chances fell his way but the only time he found the back of the net - with a powerful header - the play was whistled back for offside.
NYCFC II did generate some chances at the other end of the pitch but the Latics remained largely on the front foot for the remainder of the first half. Ian Shaul, making his first start for Hartford, was unable to convert another good opportunity inside the box and Dieng continued to pile up shots as well but the teams headed down the tunnel at halftime level at nil-nil.
In the second half the game still largely trended in Hartford’s direction, with Dieng, Mushagaulusa, and Rece Buckmaster all unable to turn excellent chances into goals. The Latics were made to pay for their profligacy in the 63rd minute when forward Taylor Calheira scored from close range following a transition sparked by Jonathan Jiménez.
Hartford made five changes over the next ten minutes but it was not until the 81st minute that they finally broke through when Romario Williams was brought down in the box and converted the subsequent penalty to level the score.
Late chances came to nothing for either side and following a lengthy period of stoppage time - in large part due to a heavy challenge on Hartford midfielder Beverly Makangila by Piero Elias - the whistle blew and the teams prepared for extra time.
Anderson Asiedu replaced the injured Makangila at the start of extra time which began with a couple of quick chances for NYCFC II. Nothing came of either one and Hartford broke forward in the 92nd minute with Deshane Beckford getting free down the left-hand side where he was able to dribble into the box and get the ball past keeper Tomas Romero to give the Latics their first lead of the night.
Unfortunately for Hartford, the lead did not last long. Calheira was able to get free in the box to head home his second of the night and restore parity in the 99th minute and the teams reached the midway point of extra time as they had started it, with the score level.
The Baby Blues dominated the second period of extra time, outshooting Hartford 5-0 with Maximo Carrizo scoring from inside the box to give his side the final lead of the night. The last minutes of the game were marred by some heavy challenges and a few scuffles between the players with Marcus Epps, Deshane Beckford and Chris Tiao all shown red cards in stoppage time of the second period of extra time. When the final whistle went, the score stood at 3-2 with NYCFC II advancing to the next round at Hartford’s expense.
The Latics will be back in action in league play on Saturday evening, as they welcome Western Conference foe San Antonio FC to Trinity Health Stadium for a 5 pm kickoff.