{# Overlay logo in the middle of the banner, no layout shift #} 
Atlanta United’s attack starts fast in a 4-2 Carolina Challenge Cup win over Seattle.
ATLUTD Tops Seattle in Carolina Challenge Cup
Starting Lineup
Atlanta United is less than two weeks away from its first MLS match as it meets Seattle Sounders in Charleston.
Seattle enters the Carolina Challenge Cup match as the defending MLS Cup champion. Atlanta is still building toward its first regular-season game, and Tata Martino uses a lineup that looks close to the group he has been assembling through preseason.
The Sounders start mostly Academy players, trialists and reserves, with Harry Shipp listed as the only potential regular starter in the opening group. Atlanta takes advantage early.
Josef Martínez scores a brace. Miguel Almirón converts a penalty. Tito Villalba adds another. And Atlanta beats Seattle 4-2 on Wednesday night at MUSC Health Stadium in its second match of the Carolina Challenge Cup.
1st Half
Seattle gives the ball away in the first minute through guest player Quinton Griffith. Martínez pounces first to turn the mistake into Atlanta’s opening goal. The finish gives him a goal in each of Atlanta’s first three preseason matches.
Atlanta is back in Seattle’s penalty area two minutes later. Julian Gressel goes down after a foul called on Darrius Barnes, and Miguel Almirón converts the penalty for a 2-0 lead in the third minute. It wasn’t good. [The opening three minutes] took the sting out of the game. Then it became dysfunctional. It just wasn’t a very pretty soccer match. I can’t put my finger on one reason why it was dysfunctional, but it was probably three or four. Brian Schmetzer, Seattle Head Coach - Post-Game Press Conference
Gressel stays involved as the half continues. In the 21st minute, he finds Tito Villalba on the right side. Villalba carries the ball into the edge of the penalty area and finishes through Bryan Meredith’s legs.
Atlanta goes into halftime up 3-0.
2nd Half
Ozzie Alonso enters at halftime for Seattle, recording his first preseason minutes since recovering from a knee problem.
Two minutes into the second half, Martínez chips the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net. It is his second goal of the night and puts Atlanta ahead 4-0.
To stem the building, Seattle adds more regulars as the half continues. In the 62nd minute, Will Bruin feeds Henry Wingo for the Sounders’ first goal. Then Bruin scores in the 74th minute, heading in Seattle’s second to cut Atlanta’s lead to 4-2.
Atlanta finishes the match with ten men after Gressel receives a second yellow card. There’s two options when you start off the game like that: You can either put down your head and call it quits or you can pick yourself up and continue playing. For the whole 90 minutes I don’t think we ever gave up. Bryan Meredith, Seattle Goalkeeper - Post-Game Press Conference
Closing Thoughts
Atlanta leaves Charleston with its first Carolina Challenge Cup win and a chance to play for the tournament title against Charleston Battery. A win over Charleston, combined with a Columbus loss or draw, would give Atlanta its first preseason trophy.
Seattle started mostly Academy players, trialists and reserves, and Schmetzer says the lineup is tied to the club’s preseason schedule. The Sounders are using the night as a test for young players more than a full preview of the defending MLS Cup champions. We’re not making excuses because we’re a proud club. The messaging to the young players was that this was a learning lesson. If you want to get up to here, there’s your bar. Those are the guys you want to measure yourself against. Brian Schmetzer, Seattle Head Coach Post-Game Press Conference
There is only so much Atlanta can take from the result. Seattle were not at full strength. The early goals still count as useful work for a new team trying to sharpen its attacking group before March 5.
Atlanta gets one more Carolina Challenge Cup match before the MLS opener. The next one is against Charleston, with a trophy still possible.