Williams, Beckford keep Hartford in winning mode

HARTFORD, Connecticut (CMC):

Romario Williams scored a goal but had a penalty saved while fellow Reggae Boy Deshane Beckford also got on the scoresheet, as Hartford Athletic were forced to battle before coming away with a narrow 3-2 win over Miami FC in the United Soccer League.

Playing at the Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday night, the 29-year-old Williams muffed the chance to put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute before redeeming himself with a 55th minute strike which doubled the lead given them by the 25-year-old Beckford just before half-time.

Gabriel Cabral pulled one back for Miami in the 76th before Enoch Mushagalusa, a 77th minute substitute for Beckford, got the crucial third goal for Hartford in the first minute of injury time.

Drama ensued, however, when Joseph Farrell put the ball in the back of his own net two minutes later to make the game closer than necessary, but Hartford held on for their third win in four games.

They lie third in the Eastern Conference on nine points, just three off leaders Louisville and Detroit.

The loss, meanwhile, was Miami’s third in five games, leaving them eighth in the conference on four points.

Both teams had chances to go ahead in the contest until Beckford was cut down in the box by Samuel Biek, but Williams’ weak spot kick was easily saved by goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi diving low to his right.

Beckford made up for the miss with half-time approaching when he scored from 20 yards out after Gagliardi inexplicably found himself well outside the 18-yard box.

Williams then doubled Hartford’s lead when he squeezed his shot in at the far post from close range following Jay Chapman’s corner,

Cabral scored with a low drive from the edge of the box before Mushagalusa responded with a deflected finish from the right-side of the box, as the game ebbed and flowed.

With time ticking away at the end, Farrell was helpless when his centre back partner Thomas Vancaeyezeele lashed a goal-line clearance off his body and past his own goalkeeper Paul Walters.