Loudoun allows late stoppage goal in 2-1 loss

Loudoun United has encountered lots of different drama when playing Hartford Athletic over the last 11 months, and it would only seem natural that the elements play a part in a game that ultimately resulted in a heartwrenching 2-1 loss to Hartford in front of 4,019 at Dillon Stadium in Connecticut.

The starting lineup was largely unchanged from last week’s loss to Tampa Bay; Jermaine Fordah returned to goalkeeper and Robby Dambrot dropped to left center back in place of Wahab Ackwei (Jacob Greene started along with D.C. United loanees Michael DeShields and Jovanny Bolivar), and Massimo Ferrin made his second start of 2021; Kairou Amoustapha started on the bench after appearing for the Niger national team in a friendly series.

Unfortunately, things started poorly after a Ted Ku-DiPietro fells to Juan Carlos Obregon, who took care of the rest:

Amoustapha came on at halftime and Sammy Sergi 10 minutes later, and Loudoun’s substitutions helped tilt the field to their favor. A Darluis Paz cross in the 77th minute went off a Hartford defender’s arm, and Bolivar converted the penalty kick to level things.

Following a 45-minute lightning delay, Hartford continued to press forward, and a Hartford cross in the box was punched right to Nicolas Cardona who provided the late difference:

Loudoun (1-6-0) plays at Charleston Battery next Saturday, June 26 at 7:00pm at Patriots Park Soccer Complex.

Box Score

USL Championship Regular Season - Game 7
Hartford Athletic 1 (Obregon 6)
Loudoun United FC 1 (Bolivar 78 (PK))

Lineups:
Hartford (433): Jeff Caldwell; Younes Boudadi, Walid Yacoubou, Thomas Janjigian, Gabriel Torres; Danny Barrera (C), Connor McGlynn (Christian Gomez 62), Arthur Rogers (Nicolas Cardona 79); Walmer Martinez (Jeciel Cedeno 79), Juan Carlos Obregon (Alfonso Vazquez 90+7), Preston Tabort Etaka (Alejandro Lara 62)

Loudoun (3412): Jermaine Fordah; Michael DeShields (Owen Walz 45), Timmy Mehl (C), Robby Dambrot; Ted Ku-DiPietro (Landry Houssou 67), Nicky Downs (Kairou Amoustapha 45), Jeremy Garay, Jacob Greene 45; Massimo Ferrin (Sammy Sergi 55); Darluis Paz, Jovanny Bolivar

Bookings:
Hartford - Yacoubou 77
Loudoun United - Mehl 25, Houssou 86