Hartford Athletic's Joey Akpunonu Recalled by FC Cincinnati
Hartford Athletic's Joey Akpunonu Recalled by FC Cincinnati
A major piece of Hartford's recent defensive improvement departs just hours ahead of one of the biggest games of the year.
Hartford Athletic announced this morning that defender Joey Akpunonu has been recalled from his season-long loan by FC Cincinnati.
The move comes just hours ahead of Hartford’s rivalry clash with RIFC, and takes away a major part of the Green and Blue’s improved form in the back that helped them to a pair of consecutive clean sheets and an unbeaten record in four of their last five games.
Akponunonu, who made 10 starts in 14 appearances for the Green and Blue in 2024, had earned a starting center-back spot in all of the last five matches, helping the club to a 1W-0L-3D record in that time with two clean sheets that supplemented their longest unbeaten stretch (3 matches) since August 2022.
The move likely opens up a starting spot for Joe Farrell, who also has 15 starts of the year at CB (and five games as captain), to play alongside Jordan Scarlett as the most probable center back pairing. Notably, Farrell also scored his lone goal of the season in the first meeting between RIFC and Hartford on June 1, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
Mike Deshields, who signed midseason with the club, exists as the only other real central option for Brendan Burke, but so far he has only played 53 minutes across two appearances and one start for the club. Thomas Vancaeyezeele is also a center-back by trade, but has primarily been used as a versatile defensive midfielder under Burke this season.
Hartford Athletic are set to kick off the road leg of their rivalry match vs. RIFC tonight at 7:30 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd at Beirne Stadium. The match will be streamed on NESN+, ESPN+ and locally in Hartford on MyTV9.