Hartford Athletic Drop First Game of 2024 Against North Carolina FC
A second-half resurgence was not enough on Saturday as Brendan Burke's perfect start in Hartford was dashed in North Carolina.
In their first meeting with North Carolina FC since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Hartford Athletic’s perfect start to 2024 came to an end on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss.
It was a slow start that ultimately doomed the Green and Blue in the opening 45 minutes — almost the complete opposite of their early offensive explosion against Birmingham last week. Paul Walters once again got the nod between the sticks for the Brendan Burke’s side, while only two changes interrupted the XI from last week’s home opener: Romario Williams returned to the lineup on his return from international duty, while Beverly Makangila also got the start in defense after coming off the bench in the first two. After starting both of Hartford’s opening games, Joe Farrell started Saturday’s contest on the bench.
After a back and fourth opening 20 minutes, Hartford had stretches of possession but ultimately couldn’t craft more than a handful of half-chances as the game remained scoreless in the early stages. It was eventually the hosts who got the first true look at goal in the 23rd minute, when Ezra Armstrong fired a shot from distance, forcing a sharp two-palmed save from Paul Walters — the first of the game from either keeper, and one of two he would make in the opening 45.
Pushing the ball back into traffic, Walters was unable to get the initial shot out of the danger zone. The hosts would take advantage, and did eventually find the back of the net when the follow-up shot popped up off the back of a Hartford defender and over Walters. Celebrations were ultimately cut short as the effort was flagged offsides, but it didn’t take long for NCFC to find the breakthrough.
Just seconds later, North Carolina once again found themselves on the attack when they broke through Hartford’s back line, sending Oalex Anderson through on goal inside the box. In a late attempt to halt the forward progress, Anderson Asiedu was forced to make late contact with the back of the attacker, consequentially conceding a penalty and picking up an early yellow card. Louis Perez calmy converted the resulting spot kick with a powerful strike to the right post, sending Walters the wrong way and becoming the man to score against Hartford in 2024.
Inspired by the shift in momentum, NCFC immediately pounced on the front foot, doubling their lead less than 10 minutes later. In a similar buildup to the play that won the penalty, the goal came from a central ball that sliced through the Hartford back line to send Armstrong through on goal. This time, the 25-year-old would convert from close range, slotting the ball into Walters’ far post and digging Hartford into an unfamiliar and early hole just past the half-hour mark.
While Hartford were able to right the ship and find their feet in the attack towards the end of the half, they would manage only four shots in the opening 45 minutes and hit the frame once — a stark difference from the 20 they fired against Birmingham in the first half of last week’s win, and a performance that yielded just a 0.13 XG.
Walters was once again called into action early in the second half when dangerous attacking buildup play resulted in a powerful low shot from the top of the box. Quick off of his line, the former FC Cincinnati man got down low to cut the angle and deny the early strike, but Hartford found themselves on the back foot as they dug deep for an opening goal.
The game remained in the balance midway through the second half until a triple-change from Burke in the 67th minute sparked life into the Green and Blue — Mamadou Dieng replaced Williams up top after his positive debut showing last week, Enoch Mushagalusa replaced Marcus Epps, and Academy contract player Ian Shaul would make his professional debut in place of Asiedu.
The injection of fresh, young legs would ultimately prove beneficial to Burke’s side, who were able to get a goal back just minutes after the swap. It happened when Jay Chapman’s direct free kick from the left side looped dangerously through traffic before bouncing at the far post, and sneaking it’s way into the side netting to cut the deficit to one with just under 20 minutes to play.
Despite taking 10 of their 14 total shots and maintaining 56% possession through the final 45 minutes, the two-goal deficit would prove too much to overcome for Hartford, who couldn’t take advantage of a late shift in momentum. Dieng would come as close as the woodwork in the closing stages, but the Green and Blue would ultimately see their two-match win and shutout streak come to an end in North Carolina as they fell 2-1.
After finishing the first month of Burke’s tenure 2-0-1, the Green and Blue will return home to Trinity Health Stadium next week for a meeting with Eastern Conference foes Miami FC. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Trinity Health Stadium on ESPN+ and MyTV9.