"Starting with the hosts, while Oakland might have signed off August with a much-welcomed 1-0 victory against Monterey Bay, it appears that was just a minor boost for Benny Feilhaber's downbeat squad. Last seen putting in a nightmare performance as they opened October with a routine 3-1 drumming at the hands of El Paso, the California-based outfit appear to have accepted that their play-off dreams have gone up in smoke."
"Opening Wednesday's showdown holding just a two-point buffer from slipping to the foot of the Western Conference standings, Oakland are without a win from any of their previous five consecutive USL appearances. Likewise, facing what looks set to be another stern examination in midweek, the former Sporting Kansas coach will also have a major headache over his side's extended issues on home soil."
"As for the visitors, while Hartford might have spent the majority of the 2024 campaign scrapping it out at the foot of the Eastern Conference standings, the Greens have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion this time around. Sat firmly in the driving seat to booking a shock play-off ticket, Brendan Burke's side will be looking to make another statement here."
Hartford Athletic have transformed a poor start to the 2024 campaign into a strong run, winning five of their previous six matches across competitions and entering Wednesday's trip in confident form. Brendan Burke's side recently secured a gritty 1-0 win at Sacramento Republic and finished September with a 2-0 victory at Colorado Springs. Oakland Roots ended August with a 1-0 win over Monterey Bay but remain winless in five USL matches and sit only two points above the Western Conference basement. Benny Feilhaber's team struggle at home, with just one win in their last six California league outings, dating back to July.
Read at Soccer News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]