Atlanta United 2 Cannot Complete Comeback Against Red Bulls II

Starting Lineup

Atlanta United 2 entered Friday afternoon holding one of the Eastern Conference’s eight playoff positions, but only one point separated it from the teams immediately below the line. Only two points separated fifth place from 10th in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta began the day in seventh with 34 points, one behind defending MLS NEXT Pro champion Red Bull New York II. According to the match broadcast, ATLUTD2 Head Coach José Silva approached the remaining games “like a final.”

Six days ago, Atlanta left Chattanooga feeling it should have earned more from a 1-0 loss. The team allowed only six shots, but one early mistake and another match without a goal sent it home empty-handed.

Atlanta once again created enough chances to take something from the match. Red Bull New York II scored twice late in the first half Friday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Enzo Dovlo got one back less than two minutes after the break, but Atlanta could not find an equalizer.

1st Half

New York went directly towards Atlanta’s goal from the opening kickoff and won a corner in the first minute. Jonathan Ransom pushed through traffic to catch the ball.

Arif Kovac found Enzo Dovlo on the right side of the box in the 3rd minute. Dovlo shot with his left, but Connor Faello blocked the shot. Toto Majub then passed to Cameron Dunbar outside the box. Dunbar’s low shot bounced just before reaching Austin Causey, who made the save.

Atlanta won a corner in the 4th minute. Majub found Andrew Jardines near the center of the box, but Nate Worth blocked Jardines’ shot.

New York created its first shot in the 10th minute. Benjamin Rodriguez passed to Nate Worth near the center of the box in the 10’. Worth struck the ball with his right, but Matthew Senanou was able to block the shot.

New York created the next several chances. Worth sent a free kick into the box in the 16’, but Jason Bori headed wide. Andy Rojas had a shot blocked by Mohamed Cisset two minutes later. New York kept the attack alive from the resulting corner, and Toto Majub blocked Sean Baitinger’s shot near the center of the box.

Sean Baitinger crossed to Dennis Nelich in the 29’. Nelich headed the ball towards goal, but Ransom made the save. The ball fell to Christian Gallagher inside the box. He shot, but Majub blocked it in front of goal.

Chong Qui nearly gave Atlanta the lead in the 34th when he nutmegged a defender on the left side of the box, but sent his shot narrowly wide of the far post.

In the 41st minute, New York broke through with the opening goal. Benjamin Rodriguez received the ball outside the top of the box and drove towards Atlanta’s defense before passing to Andy Rojas on the right. Rojas took a touch and waited for Christian Gallagher’s delayed run into the middle. Gallagher moved behind Atlanta’s defenders without being picked up, then guided a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner. New York led 1-0.

Atlanta then gave New York an opportunity to double the lead during the first minute of stoppage time. Ransom misplayed a pass directly to Rojas, who entered the left side of the box. Ransom and Jardines moved towards Rojas, who passed across the box to an open Gallagher. Gallagher shot towards the open net, but Jardines blocked the ball with his arm on the goal line. The referee awarded a penalty and showed Jardines a yellow card. Rojas stepped up and placed the penalty inside the right side of the net. Ransom chose correctly, but could not reach the ball.

The half ends with Atlanta trailing 2-0.

2nd Half

Silva made two changes at halftime. Santiago Pita replaced Ignacio Suarez-Couri, while Daniel Chica took Majub’s place in the back line.

New York started the second half on the front foot. Dennis Nelich found Andy Rojas on the right side of the box, but Rojas sent the ball high and wide.

In the 47th minute, Dovlo played the ball forward to Kovac near midfield and continued his run. Kovac and Joshua Munson challenged for the pass, but neither controlled it and both went to the ground. Dovlo reached the loose ball and carried it towards New York’s two remaining defenders. He passed to Dunbar and continued into the box. Dunbar quickly returned the ball, and Dovlo struck a first-time left-footed shot into the far corner. Atlanta cut the lead in half 2-1.

Atlanta pressed higher after Dovlo’s goal. Deven Cadigan slipped while trying to play the ball in the 56th, and Kovac got there first and shot from inside the box. Causey made the save.

Atlanta then brought on two subs. DD Sibrian replaced Adyn Torres in the 58th minute, and Seyi Fakiyesi replaced Dominik Chong Qui one minute later.

Dovlo forced Causey into another save shortly after. Causey pushed the bouncing shot behind for a corner, which Pita delivered into the box. Cisset struck the crossbar from the left side.

The Red Bulls made three changes in the 66th minute. Three minutes later, Rojas tested Ransom with a shot from outside the box, but the keeper made the save.

Atlanta did not produce another shot until the 84th minute. Pita entered the left side of the box and forced another save from Causey. Atlanta won a corner one minute later but could not get off a shot.

Patrick Weah replaced Jardines in the 89th as Atlanta made its final change. Eight minutes of stoppage gave Atlanta enough time to find an equalizer.

Atlanta sent a free kick into the box in the 94th. Weah rose near the center of the box and directed an open header towards goal, but Causey again made the save.

Cisset blocked Paul Sokoloff’s shot in the 98th minute, giving New York the final corner of the match. The Red Bulls ran out the remaining time to secure the 2-1 win.

Closing Thoughts

Atlanta put seven of its 13 shots on target and forced Causey to make six saves. The accuracy was an improvement from the loss at Chattanooga, when only two of Atlanta’s 14 attempts tested the goalkeeper. Across the two matches, Atlanta produced 27 shots but scored once.

Dovlo led Atlanta with four attempts and placed two on target. His fourth goal of the season was his second in the past three matches. Dunbar’s assist was his eighth of the year, setting a new Atlanta United 2 single-season record and moving him into a tie for the MLS NEXT Pro lead.

New York kept Kovac from adding to his league-leading 15 goals and limited him to one shot. Causey made six saves to protect New York’s lead. The victory was the Red Bulls’ second in a row following a four-match losing streak.

Atlanta fell to 10-8-4 with 34 points after its second consecutive loss. Atlanta United 2 returns to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground Tuesday, Aug. 18 to face Chicago Fire FC II. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.