Atlanta United 2 played reigning USLC champions Orange County SC to a 0-0 draw after a physical 90 minutes.
ATL UTD 2 began the match with a positive spell, almost opening the scoring in the 17th minute after Aiden McFadden forced a diving save from goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky with a header off a Robbie Mertz set piece.
The hosts created another opportunity in the 33rd minute, after Raimar found Ajani Fortune at the edge of the box. The Trinidad and Tobago international fizzed a hard shot toward net; however, it was right into the palms of Rakovsky.
Orange County poured the pressure on late in the first half but despite a close-range chance for Milan Iloski in the 44th minute, the visitors were unable to convert their chances into goals.
Orange County had more clear-cut chances than Atlanta in the second half, but it was the hosts who believed they grabbed the match winner in stoppage time. Jonantan Villal put the ball in the back of the net after being seen through on goal by Darwin Matheus, but the potential winner was waved off for offside.
ATL UTD 2 (2-8-1, 7 points) returns to Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Wednesday, June 1 to take on another Western Conference opponent in Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 0, Orange County 0
Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Kennesaw, Georgia
STATS
Shots: 13-6 Orange County
Shots on Target: 2-1 Atlanta
Corner kicks: 5-0 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 16-15 Orange County
Offsides: 4-1 Atlanta
Possession: 51.1-48.9 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 76.9-74.8 Atlanta
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Nick Firmino 2’ (yellow)
ATL – Brendan Lambe 26’ (yellow)
OCSC – Colin Shutler 84’ (yellow)
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Vicente Reyes; Aiden McFadden, Noah Cobb, Nelson Orji, Raimar (Luke Brennan – 80’); Brendan Lambe (Jonantan Villal – 63’), Nick Firmino, Robbie Mertz ©; Erik Centeno (David Mejía – 56’), Jackson Conway, Ajani Fortune (Darwin Matheus – 80’).
Substitutes not used: Dagoberto Romero, Grant Howard, Andy Sullins.
ORANGE COUNTY STARTING LINEUP
Patrick Rakovsky; Brent Richards, Hunter Gorskie (Seth Casiple – 80’), Albi Skendi, Michael Orozco © (Sean Okoli – 46’), Tony Rocha, Danny Pedersen, Tommy McCabe, Alex Villanueva; Erick Torres, Milan Iloski (Korede Osundina – 80’).
Substitutes not used: Colin Shutler, Kevin Partida, Jonny Gomez, Sully Hwang.
OFFICIALS
Alyssa Nichols (referee), Zach McWhorter (assistant), Sarah Gaddes (assistant), Aleksander Zhelyazkov (fourth official)
ATTENDANCE
749
