HARTFORD (DA) — An own goal charged to Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time handed Hartford Athletic a 2-1 victory over Miami FC on Saturday night.
Jürgen Locadia scored Miami’s lone goal at Trinity Health Stadium, sending a right-footed finish into the bottom corner in the 45th minute after Mason Tunbridge’s pass. The Curaçao forward’s equalizer canceled out Barry Coffey’s 16th-minute opener.
Room had made successive saves during the sequence that produced Hartford’s first goal, denying Coffey and Abdullah Taofeek before Coffey converted from close range. Room also stopped TJ Presthus’ header in the 31st minute.
Locadia threatened repeatedly before breaking through. Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha saved his efforts in the 39th and 42nd minutes, but Locadia found the corner moments before halftime to send the teams into the break level at 1-1.
Miami held 57.8% of the possession but was unable to turn its advantage on the ball into a second goal. Hartford won seven corners to Miami’s three and made four substitutions in the 56th minute as it pushed for a winner.
Rodrigo da Costa nearly put Miami ahead in the first minute of stoppage time, sending a header narrowly over the crossbar. Hartford then regained the lead through Room’s own goal in the 94th minute and held on until the final whistle.
The match drew an announced crowd of 4,105.