Hartford Athletic veteran Danny Barrera scored two goals and an assist in a 4-3 USL Championship win over North Carolina in Hartford on Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Hartford Athletic)

HARTFORD, October 12, 2024 – Veteran Danny Barrera scored two goals and an assist while Marlon Hairston added two assists as the Hartford Athletic boosted its playoff hopes with a 4-3 USL Championship win over North Carolina FC at Trinity Health Stadium a year ago maintained a sell-out crowd on Saturday night.

In the final home game of the season, Hartford (11-13-7, 40 points) had a four-goal lead before North Carolina scored three goals in the final 26 minutes to close the gap.

North Carolina (11-12-9, 42 points) is currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Athletic are two points behind on 40 points with three away games remaining. North Carolina only has two games left.

Hartford completes the 2024 season with games at Tulsa (Saturday, Oct. 19) and Orange County on Saturday, Oct. 26. They also have an away game against Tampa Bay that was postponed due to the arrival of Hurricane Helene in September.

The back-to-back connections between Barrera (34) and Hairston began in the ninth minute when Barrera received the ball from Hariston just outside the top right side of the penalty area. Barrera took a touch and shot low, sending the ball bouncing past the diving North Carolina goalkeeper Jacob McGuire.

Hartford kept their foot on the gas and scored their second goal in the 33rd minute when Hairston Barrera scored a second time to take a 2-0 lead. With this goal, Barrera extended his club record to 18 career goals. He also has a career-leading 32 assists.

Hartford extended its lead to 3-0 early in the second half. On the 56thTh In the minute, Beverly Makangila hit the net after a corner from Barrera. The Congolese midfielder won Barrera's mid-air ball by floating his header up and over McGuire into the bottom right corner.

Mamadou Dieng and Michee Ngalina were the next connections for Hartford in the 63rd minute. Ngalina chased down a lead ball from Barrera and delivered a low cross into the middle of the penalty area for Dieng, who fired his shot at the near post for a 4-0 lead.

North Carolina didn't let up, scoring three goals and forcing an excellent save from Renan Ribeiro in stoppage time.

Evan Conway put the visitors on target in the 74th minute, followed by a header from Rodrigo Da Costa that found the net from a corner and another from Justin Malou in the first minute of stoppage time. A minute later, Evan Conway forced a heroic save from Renan Ribeiro. North Carolina's leading scorer got free in the attacking third with three defenders behind him and fired his shot low from the top right corner of the box, but the charging Ribeiro parried the ball away with his right foot to keep Hartford in front.

Hartford Athletic 4, North Carolina FC 1
In Hartford
North Carolina FC (12/11/9) 0 3 – 3
Hartford (11/13/7) 2 2 – 4
Goals: Hartford: – Danny Barrera 9' (Assist: Marlon Hairston); Danny Barrera 33' (Marlon Hairston), Beverly Makangila 56' (Danny Barrera); Mamadou Dieng 64' (Michee Ngalina); North Carolina: – Evan Conway 74' (Jacori Hayes); Rodrigo Da Costa 83' (Michael Maldonado); Justin Malou 90+1' (Michael Maldonado); Saves –Renan Riberiro (H) 4, Jacob McGuire (NC) 1; Recordings: North Carolina 20-9; Shots on goal: North Carolina, 7-5; Corners: North Carolina, 10-3
HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP
40 (GK) Renan Ribeiro, 15 (DF) Joseph Farrell, 24 (DF) Michael DeShields, 6 (MF) Beverly Makangila, 7 (FW) Marcus Epps, 12 (MF) Anderson Asiedu, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (Freeman ). , 90 + 1'); 94 (MF) Marlon Hairston (Boudadi, 73'); 11 (FW) Michee Ngalina, 33 (FW) Mamadou Dieng, 4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett
NORTH CAROLINA FC STARTING LINEUP
1 (TW) Jacob McGuire, 7 (DF) Lamar Batista, 8 (MF) Louis Perez (Sommersall, 70'); 11 (FW) Evan Conway, 14 (FW) Rafael Mentzingen, 15 (MF) Michael Maldonado, 16 (MF) Rodrigo Da Costa, 17 (MF) Collin Martin (Hayes, 70'); 27 (DF) Bryce Washington (Malou, 78'); 42 (DF) Ezra Armstrong, 2 (DF) Paco Craig