Hartford dropped a 3-2 decision to Birmingham in USL Championship play Sunday in Alabama. (Photo courtesy Hartford Athletic)
The Hartford Athletic soccer team came close to stealing a point from the top team in the Eastern Conference on Sunday.
But Birmingham Legion scored a goal in extra time to slip past Hartford, 3-2. Forward Enzo Martinez scored twice for Birmingham (5-1-2) in the second half and defender Alex Crognale scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time.
Hartford (1-4-2) took the early lead in the 38th minute. After passing interplay in and around the Birmingham box, Prince Saydee found the feet of Jeciel Cedeño to put the visitors up by one.
The energy level shifted in favor of the Black & Gold in the second half.
In the 65th minute, Legion found its equalizer through Martinez. Prosper Kasim fed in a ball off a corner kick to a wide-open Martinez at the penalty spot, and the Uruguayan instinctively smashed it into the goal.
Two minutes, Hartford grabbed the lead again. Thanks to quick, forward passing substitute Kyle Edwards found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg and put one past him.
Birmingham tied the game for a second time. Forward Juan Agudelo found Kasim out wide on the left wing, and the Ghanaian placed a pin-point ball all the way across to the other side of the box right at the feet of an onrushing Martinez, who hammered it into the net to tie the game at 2-2.
Birmingham had several opportunities in the final 15 minutes. They cashed in with three minutes gone in stoppage time. Off a corner kick, Martinez whipped a ball toward the head of Crognale who dunked it in goal to win the game.
Hartford returns to action on Saturday when they host Memphis at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford.
Birmingham 3, Hartford 2
At Birmingham
Hartford (1-4-2) 1 1 — 2
Birmingham (5-1-2) 0 3 — 3
Goals: Hartford – 38’ Jeciel Cedeño (Prince Saydee); 67’ — Kyle Edwards (Prince Saydee); Birmingham – 65’ Enzo Martinez (Prosper Kasim), 76’ Enzo Martinez (Prosper Kasim, 90+3’ Alex Crognale (Enzo Martinez); Shots: Birmingham 18-14. On Target: Birmingham 6-5; Corner kicks: Birmingham, 5-2; Saves: Richard Sanhez (H) 3, Trevor Spangenberg (B) 3
Hartford Athletic — 1 (GK) Richard Sánchez, 22 (DF) Robin Lapert, 3 (DF) Kaveh Rad, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 14 (DF) Ashkanov Apollon (Edwards, 55′);16 (DF) Matt Sheldon, 77 (MF) Andre Lewis, 29 (FW) Antoine Hoppenot, 8 (MF) Juan Pablo Torres, 11 (FW) Jeciel Cedeño (Barrera, 91′); 7 (FW) Prince Saydee
Birmingham Legion — 18 (GK) Trevor Spangenberg, 16 (DF) Gabriel Alves, 3 (DF) Phanuel Kavita, 21 (DF) Alex Crognale, 2 (DF) Ben Reveno (Pasher, 72′); 7 (FW) Diba Nwegbo (Smith, 45′); 6 (MF) Anderson Asiedu, 17 (MF) Matthew Corcoran (Lopez, 77′); 10 (FW) Prosper Kasim, 9 (FW) Juan Agudelo, 19 (MF) Enzo Martínez
