Overview:

Brooklyn FC fell, 2-0, to Hartford Athletic on Saturday night at Maimonides Park in the club’s second USL Cup match.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Brooklyn FC fell, 2-0, to Hartford Athletic on Saturday night at Maimonides Park in the club’s second USL Cup match.

Brooklyn generated the first dangerous opportunity of the game in the seventh minute when forward Juan Obregon Jr. forced a low save from Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha after linking up with forward CJ Olney Jr.

Midfielder Taimu Okiyoshi followed with a long-range attempt in the 11th minute that narrowly missed the right side of the goal.

Obregon Jr. continued to pressure Hartford’s defense throughout the opening half, nearly finding the breakthrough again in the 13th minute with a right-footed effort that sailed just wide. Olney Jr. kept testing the Hartford backline in the 22nd minute, seeing a shot from distance blocked after a setup from defender Gabriel Alves.

Moments later, center back Vuk Latinovich nearly gave Brooklyn the lead on a set piece opportunity, sending a shot just wide of the post following a Obregon Jr. cross from a corner kick in the 40th minute.

After a scoreless first half, Brooklyn resumed its attacking momentum early in the second half. CJ Olney Jr. forced another save from Siaha in the 48th minute with a low strike from outside the box.

Hartford broke through in the 63rd minute as midfielder Samuel Careaga finished from close range following a pass from Barry Coffey to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Brooklyn head coach Marlon LeBlanc responded with attacking substitutions, bringing on forwards Markus Anderson, Shaan Hundal, and Jaden Servania in the 61st minute before later introducing midfielder Peter Mangione and Callum Frogson.

Brooklyn nearly responded immediately after conceding, with CJ Olney Jr. forcing another save from Siaha in the 62nd minute after a setup from Ryan McLaughlin. Midfielder Peter Mangione created a dangerous chance in the 75th minute, but his shot from the center of the box was denied by Siaha.

Seconds later, Markus Anderson tested Hartford again with a powerful strike from outside the box that forced another save. Hartford sealed the result in the 86th minute when Michee Ngalina finished into the top corner following an assist from Jordan Scarlett.