Arif Kovac scores five as ATLUTD2 storms back to beat Huntsville City 6-2

ATLUTD2 earned a 6-2 win against Huntsville City FC at Wicks Family Field, with Arif Kovac netting five. Huntsville opened the scoring in the 18th minute when defender Leo Christiano finished from the center of the box on an assist from Misei Yoshizawa. Huntsville forward Maximus Ekk was sent off in the 41st minute after receiving a second yellow. Huntsville defender Julian Gaines added a second for the hosts in first-half stoppage time with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.

Atlanta began its comeback in the second half through Kovac. Ilan Ettinger provided the assist on Kovac’s first goal in the 53rd minute, marking the first professional assist of Ettinger’s career. Kovac added a second in the 66th minute on assists from Enzo Dovlo and Matthew Senanou. In the 75th minute, Atlanta completed the comeback when Cameron Dunbar dribbled inside from the left before crossing to Kovac in the middle. Kovac created separation from his defender and scored with a header from the center of the box. Andrew Jardines received the second assist on the play, while Kovac completed the first hat trick of his professional career.

Huntsville was reduced to nine players in the 80th minute when Moisés Véliz Rodriguez received a second yellow after catching Ettinger late on a challenge. With a two-player advantage, ATLUTD2 added three more goals during stoppage time. Liam Butts scored in the 90+3’ on an assist from Kovac. Two minutes later, Jardines forced a save from Xavier Valdez before Kovac converted the rebound for his fourth goal of the night. Kovac then added his fifth goal in the 90+8’ on Jardines’ assist, which marked Jardines’ first professional assist.

Kovac became the first player in ATLUTD2 history to score five goals in a match. He finished with nine shots and seven shots on target, both club single-match records. Kovac’s five-goal performance moved him into a tie for the MLS NEXT Pro golden boot with seven goals and three assists in eight appearances. Atlanta recorded five assists in the match, the highest single-match total in club history. And it extended its away winning streak to four. ATLUTD2 finished with a 23-4 advantage in shots, a 10-3 edge in shots on target, and a 90 percent passing accuracy compared to Huntsville’s 72 percent.