Three Thoughts on a Hartford El Clamico Victory
Usually a 3-0 scoreline is a positive enough experience, but an in-form unbeaten streaking Hartford team is just something else to watch in person.
For the first time this year, I actually crawled out of my bed at what the rest of you daywalkers consider normal operating hours…how you lot do things during the day is beyond me. Overnight shift FTW.
Anyway, I made the relatively short trip to Trinity Health Stadium which is a delightful journey compared to the drive up to Gillette because it involved not being in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. I am pleased to say that the 15th* edition of El Clamico this year ( * - unconfirmed number) did not disappoint.
It was a fitting way to send off striker Mamadou Dieng, as “Momo” got a standing ovation at halftime as Hartford made the transfer to Minnesota United official earlier in the week before the green-clad Fortress defenders posted a 3-0 victory.
Now these thoughts are based on a small sample size, but I think are reflective of the two teams overall form. Hartford now up to seventh in the standings is currently on a long unbeaten stretch in all competitions going back to mid-July while Rhode Island hasn’t won in league play in two months. Both teams are however in the semi-finals of the USL Jager Cup, but their 16th* meeting will have to wait until a potential final.
HARTFORD ATHLETIC - SPEED KILLS
Okay, so the first goal was just a normal cleanup in the box when Samuel Careaga smashed home a rebound at the top of the six after Koke Vegas made an initial save just six minutes in. The next hour or so was pretty rough and then Hartford unleashed its greatest weapon.
Hartford’s second goal was pure route one soccer, as former Revs academy grad and RI second-half sub Zach Herivaux couldn’t hold off two attackers on a long ball over the top and Kyle Edwards slotted home the second playing of the Brass Bonanza in the 73rd minute.
About ten minutes later, another long ball over the top saw RI’s Aldair Sanchez get tangled up with Michee Ngalina and earn an unfortunate but very clear last man red card. Hartford completed the night with a tremendous top shelf effort from Owen Presthus set up by Edwards with a neat header to his teammate at the top of the box.
Every one of Hartford’s goals (and an opponent's red card) was a combination of speed and reaction; getting to a loose ball first, shielding a defender for a teammate to get open in the box, and underlapping channel runs into the box. It’s not always the most glamorous brand of soccer, but Hartford makes it work.
They’ve been playing on the front foot a lot the past few months with a very clear identity and it shows. Is it something that could make a deep run in the USL Playoffs? Maybe not, but it’s right now consistently causing everyone problems and that momentum could carry Hartford to a trophy in two more cup games.
RHODE ISLAND - THE SUMMER SLUMP IS REAL
The crack TBM research team has determined that it has been 51 days since Rhode Island FC last scored a goal from open play in the USL Championship.
And after seeing them in person only once, it’s easy to see why. Despite an overwhelming advantage in possession (about two-thirds, 65-70% depending on where you look), RI only generated a handful of chances, usually through JJ Williams flashing a header over the bar.
Of their nine shot attempts, only one was on target. While Williams was dangerous inside the box when he actually got his head on the ball, he generated three of those shots.
I thought he was far too static in the middle of the field. RIFC struggled in the final third due to a lack of movement and mediocre at best service.
At worst, the service for the Anchors was laughable, with multiple set pieces going up and over everyone or just outright over the end line with no hope of anyone getting on the other end. If RIFC is going to be dependent on Williams for goals, he has to be more active, and the service has to be far better.
JOYS OF SMALL STADIUMS
Listen, I am very biased about this one cause I worked for an independent baseball team for 12 seasons in a 5,500-seat stadium.
Nothing beats minor league, lower division, small college, etc. Give me a MAAC basketball game over any NBA game at either Garden (Madison Square or TD Bank). Give me the opportunity to hit up the Ted’s Restaurant food truck for a steamed cheeseburger over all the overpriced and/or discounted chicken tender baskets at regular food stands any day.
They even had Narragansett on tap, or at least the Atlantic light lager which threw me and someone else in line (who was wearing a Gansett shirt) off cause we didn’t recognize the logo. Cheerful conversations were had with fans nearby about bad free kicks, L’s Frozen Lemonade, Antony Siaha running from the other side of the field to celebrate goals in front of The Bonanza, and multiple people surprised that red cards can be given for such a non-violent action.
Very rarely am I unhappy with the atmosphere or experience at a non top flight sporting event and yet I go so infrequently nowadays. The only blemish on the night was watching the Fairfield Little League give up a ton of runs late. Still got third place in the world, a pretty good day for CT in the end.
Not spending three hours on the road from Connecticut to Gillette also helps, but being hilariously cramped into a large closet full of merch, ducking in between multiple concession lines, is just more nostalgic than the wide open concrete concourses of larger stadiums.
Maybe the Revs new SSS in Everett, if it happens, will draw similar reactions to my nostalgia and create a more intimate environment for soccer. But I’ll believe it when I see it, give me THS and The Rent (and Virtue during a title run) over everything.