ATLUTD2 loses late lead, falls to Chattanooga in shootout

Starting Lineup

ATLUTD2 had already done the hard part.

Down three goals at home, on a hot night in Athens, Atlanta United 2 pulled itself back into a match that had nearly gotten away. Two Chattanooga own goals opened the door. Andrew Jardines kicked it open. Matthew Senanou sent ATLUTD2 through it.

Then, with the match nearly over, Chattanooga took it back.

ATLUTD2 drew Chattanooga FC 4-4 on Saturday night at Turner Soccer Complex before losing the MLS NEXT Pro shootout 6-5. The final score only begins to explain the match. Atlanta trailed 3-0 early in the second half, led 4-3 by the 79th minute, gave up the equalizer in stoppage time, and then watched the extra point disappear after Ilan Ettinger’s penalty was saved and Anton Sorenson converted the final kick for Chattanooga.

It was a night of volume for Atlanta and efficiency for Chattanooga. ATLUTD2 took 25 shots, put nine on target, and forced seven saves from Eldin Jakupović. Chattanooga took 11 shots, put five on target, and scored four times. That difference told the match as much as the comeback did.

1st Half

ATLUTD2 started in a 3-4-3, with James Donaldson in goal, Daniel Chica, Matthew Senanou, and Mohamed Cisset across the back, and Moises Tablante and Dominik Chong Qui working as the wide midfielders. Cameron Dunbar, Arif Kovac, and Santiago Pita formed the front line.

Atlanta started aggressively enough. Pita had a shot in the first minute. Dunbar forced saves in the 13th, 14th, and 19th minutes. Tablante tested Jakupović from outside the box. The early chances were there, but the match did not reward Atlanta’s pressure.

Atlanta had more of the early chances, but Chattanooga scored first. In the 40th minute, Tate Robertson found Alexander Krehl in the center of the box, and Krehl finished to make it 1-0. For all of Atlanta’s pressure, Chattanooga had the lead.

Five minutes later, Chattanooga doubled their lead. Robertson supplied Krehl again, this time for a header from the center of the box in first-half stoppage time. Atlanta had created enough to be in the game.

2nd Half

The second half started badly for Atlanta. In the 48th minute, Daniel Mangarov found Tate Robertson on the left side of the box, and Robertson finished a curling left to make it 3-0. Atlanta had created more chances, but Chattanooga had taken its best ones.

ATLUTD2’s way back came from forcing Chattanooga into uncomfortable moments near its own goal. Mattias Hanchard was credited with an own goal in the 57th minute. In the 68th, Tablante played Enzo Dovlo toward goal, and Dovlo’s touch around Jakupović forced the scramble that ended with Farid Sar-Sar turning the ball into his own net. Atlanta still had not scored one itself, but Chattanooga’s lead was down to one and the game no longer felt settled.

Three minutes later, ATLUTD2 was level.

Three minutes later, ATLUTD2 was level. Suarez-Couri’s corner eventually came to Tablante outside the box. His shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to Jardines, who finished from close range to make it 3-3. Atlanta completed the comeback in the 79th minute. Chong-Qui’s long throw caused trouble in the box, Majub helped force the deflection, and the ball fell to Senanou, who finished to make it 4-3. After trailing by three, Atlanta had the lead and a match to close out.

ATLUTD2 had chances to do it. Tablante forced a save in the 88th minute, and Liam Butts sent the follow-up over. Ignacio Suarez-Couri had another shot saved in stoppage time. The fifth goal was there for the taking.

Atlanta never found it. Chattanooga did.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Anton Sorenson sent a ball into the box, McGrath touched it down, and a failed clearance fell to Yuval Cohen, who finished first time to make it 4-4. Atlanta had spent the second half dragging itself back into the match, only to lose the lead in its final minutes.

Closing Thoughts

Dominik Chong-Qui, Andrew Jardines, Enzo Dovlo, Toto Majub, and Ignacio Suarez-Couri all converted for ATLUTD2. Chattanooga kept matching them. Then Jakupović saved Ilan Ettinger’s attempt, and Anton Sorenson finished the final penalty to give Chattanooga the extra point.

Atlanta had climbed out of a three-goal hole and taken the lead. It still left Athens with only one point.