Atlanta United 2 Falls 1-0 at Chattanooga

Starting Lineup

Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Chattanooga FC on Saturday night at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, with Alexander Krehl scoring the decider in the seventh-minute. The goal took Alexander Krehl within 1 goal of lead-leading Arif Kovac, who has 16.

Atlanta controlled most of the possession and outshot Chattanooga 14-6, but only two of those attempts were on target. The result left Atlanta at 10-7-4 with 34 points.

The Five Stripes spent the rest of the night trying to recover from the early goal, coming closest through Enzo Dovlo in the 56th minute and a Cameron Dunbar free kick in the 78th.

1st Half

Atlanta United 2 started in a 4-2-3-1, with Adrian Gill and Andrew Jardines sitting behind Ignacio Suarez-Couri in midfield.

The opening minutes passed without either side creating a clear chance. In the 7th minute, Chattanooga won the ball in its own half and broke forward. Alex McGrath played the ball out to Tate Robertson on the right wing. Robertson took a couple of touches before sending a through ball ahead to Alexander Krehl, who was running level with Atlanta’s last defender.

Krehl carried into the right side of the penalty area as James Donaldson came off his line to close him down. From about 10 yards out, Krehl struck with his right and beat Donaldson at the near post to give Chattanooga a 1-0 lead.

Atlanta began finding chances as the half progressed. Ignacio Suarez-Couri received the ball in the center of the box in the 17th minute, but Farid Sar-Sar blocked his shot. Five minutes later, Enzo Dovlo found Cameron Dunbar centrally outside the box, and Dunbar’s right-footed shot forced Eldin Jakupovic into a save.

Chattanooga threatened again in the 33rd when Isaiah Jones played Alexander Krehl into the box. Krehl fired a right-footed shot from the right side that James Donaldson saved. Jones then got another look from the center of the box, but Toto Majub blocked his left-footed shot.

Late in the half, Dominik Chong Qui found Daniel Chica inside the box, but Chica headed the ball wide to the left.

The Five Stripes entered halftime trailing 1-0. Atlanta created more of the attacking chances after falling behind, but weren’t able to level the score.

2nd Half

Neither side made a change to start the second half, and neither team were able to produce a shot until Atlanta created one of its best chances of the match in the 56th minute.

Ignacio Suarez-Couri won the ball near midfield and passed forward to Enzo Dovlo on the right. Dovlo had space to run into the penalty area, where two Chattanooga defenders and Eldin Jakupovic stood between him and the goal. Dovlo tried to curl a left-footed shot towards the far post, but sent it just wide.

Seven minutes later, Cameron Dunbar tried from distance but pulled his shot wide left.

Jose Silva made his first change in the 67th, bringing on Patrick Weah for Suarez-Couri. Weah helped create a chance in the 73rd minute, finding Arif Kovac inside the box. Kovac shot with his left but carried it wide. A minute later, Daniel Chica found Dunbar near the top of the box, but Farid Sar-Sar blocked his attempt.

Atlanta earned a free kick in a dangerous area in the 78th minute. Dunbar wrapped a right-footed shot around the wall towards the far post, forcing Jakupovic to move quickly to his left and make the save. It was only Atlanta’s second shot on target.

Chattanooga threatened at the other end a minute later when Ameziane Sid Mohand found Damien Barker John in space. Barker John shot, but Donaldson made the save. Donaldson denied him again in the 84th minute, this time from a free kick.

Atlanta kept pushing into the final minutes. Senanou and Weah each had shots blocked in the 90th minute.

Chattanooga protected its lead through stoppage time and handed Atlanta United 2 the 1-0 loss.

Closing Thoughts

Atlanta left Chattanooga with 14 shots but only two on target, both saved by Eldin Jakupovic. The loss dropped the Five Stripes to 10-7-4 with 34 points.

Cameron Dunbar finished with three key passes, bringing him to 50 for the season and second in MLS NEXT Pro.

Atlanta United 2 returns home Friday, Aug. 14 to face Red Bull New York II. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.