ATLUTD2's Playoff Wait Continues After 4-1 Loss to Chattanooga

Starting Lineup

Atlanta United 2 entered Sunday with two regular-season matches remaining and four teams close behind it in the Eastern Conference table. Winning both matches would guarantee the first playoff appearance in club history.

Chattanooga had already qualified. A victory would give the home side a playoff match at Finley Stadium and the right to select its first-round opponent.

The crowd was still filing into the stadium as the players prepared to begin in the heat. The league’s two leading scorers also stood on opposite sides, with Arif Kovac one goal ahead of Chattanooga’s Alexander Krehl.

Atlanta created the first chance and controlled possession in the first half. At halftime, it could still clinch. Chattanooga then scored three times during the second half. Atlanta headed back down I-75 with a 4-1 loss, nervously looking at the table.

Atlanta now has one match left, and a loss on Decision Day could allow any of four teams to pass it. A draw against Orlando City B will still send Atlanta to the playoffs.

1st Half

In the opening minutes, Dominik Chong Qui carried the ball into the left side of Chattanooga’s penalty area. He took a shot and forced Eldin Jakupović into a save.

Alex McGrath created Chattanooga’s first chance with an attempted chip from the left wing. Ransom dropped to his knees and made the stop.

Krehl found a larger opening several minutes later. Jakupović sent a long ball down the right, and Krehl moved into the middle before shooting. Ransom made a difficult save and kept Krehl from tying Arif Kovac in the Golden Boot race.

Atlanta then gave the ball away in midfield. Mangarov collected it and ran down Chattanooga’s left side. He entered the penalty area and sent a low shot towards Ransom from a wide angle. Ransom lowered himself onto one knee and appeared ready to collect it. The ball slipped through his arms then his legs. It dribbled towards the goal line as Krehl and Mohamed Cisset chasing quickly. But Krehl arrived first and tapped the ball into the empty net. His 18th goal tied Kovac for the league lead and put Chattanooga ahead.

Atlanta now needed two goals to clinch, but it was still early.

Jardines later drove a corner into the middle. Chong Qui got the ball and shot, but Alexis Arrúa blocked it. Daniel Chica reached the loose ball and headed wide. Chica’s header was Atlanta’s final attempt of the half.

Mangarov produced the final attempt before halftime. He dribbled down the left and sent a shot towards Ransom. This time the goalkeeper collected it cleanly.

Atlanta reached halftime trailing 1-0. A playoff-clinching win remained within reach, but Chong Qui’s early shot was still Atlanta’s only attempt on target.

2nd Half

José Silva replaced D.D. Sibrian with Patrick Weah at the break.

Atlanta made the first move. Santiago Pita sent a corner into the penalty area, which Chattanooga tried to clear. The ball fell to Jardines, who took a shot from outside the box but sent it over the crossbar.

The home side then took control of the match and pushed Atlanta back towards its own goal.

Tate Robertson sent a free kick into the penalty area. The ball bounced through several players before Isaiah Jones reached it in the middle and struck the crossbar. Cisset blocked a shot from Arrúa, but the ball fell to Krehl. He took a crack which knocked off Ransom for a corner. Mangarov took the corner, but Chattanooga sent the shot wide. Two minutes later, Mangarov lifted another shot over the goal.

Just after the hour, Jakupović drove a goal kick towards Tcheuyap on the right. Tcheuyap dribbled forward, with McGrath making a run. Tcheuyap made a through pass to split the defenders and released McGrath into the penalty area. Ransom came off his line, but McGrath placed his shot into the lower-left corner. Chattanooga led 2-0.

Chattanooga worked the ball between four players outside Atlanta’s penalty area. Krehl received it on the left and sent a low shot towards Ransom. Ransom made the save but spilled the ball into the middle. Husakiwsky was waiting near the penalty spot and put the rebound into the net. He had scored two minutes after entering the match, and Chattanooga led 3-0.

Silva then sent Ignacio Suarez-Couri, Amir Henry, and Seyi Fakiyesi on for. Pita, Dovlo, and Chong Qui came off.

Matthew Senanou fouled Krehl, earning a yellow. Chattanooga sent the resulting free kick towards the back post. Sar-Sar got there and headed it back into the mix. Ransom got a hand to it but could only push it in front of goal. Barker John stepped forward and finished into the open net.

Weah controlled the ball inside the penalty area and played it back to Majub on the right. Majub sent a first-time, left-footed cross into the middle. Kovac flicked a header and directed the ball into the lower-right side of the goal. It was his 19th goal and restored his lead in the Golden Boot race. Kovac had a chance for another but sent a stoppage-time penalty over the crossbar.

Closing Thoughts

Atlanta completed 86 percent of its passes, but much of that was by the defenders. Chica completed 60 of 61 passes, while Matthew Senanou completed 81 of 86.

Atlanta put only two shots on target. Chattanooga took 20 shots, with 18 coming from inside Atlanta’s penalty area. It put 11 on target.

Despite the four goals, Ransom still made seven saves. His mistake gave Krehl the opening goal. Rebounds from two more saves fell to Husakiwsky and Barker John, who each scored.

Kovac scored Atlanta’s only goal and regained sole possession of the Golden Boot lead. His 19th goal was the main positive from the afternoon.

One game remains in the regular season. One more attempt to secure the first playoff appearance in club history. One point at Orlando City B on Decision Day will be enough.

ATLUTD2 just can’t have another day like this.