Atlanta United 2 claimed two points after a shootout victory over Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday night at Fifth Third Stadium. The match ended in a 2-2 draw through 90 minutes, with Matías Gallardo and Dominik Chong Qui finding the back of the net. Goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert made four saves in regulation and stopped the first two penalties in the shootout.
Columbus was active early in the match, getting a one-on-one chance with Hibbert at close range in the sixth minute, but the Jamaican keeper was able to read the play and knock away the shot. The visitors were able to break through in the 14th minute after Crew midfielder Adrian Gonzales won a duel just beyond midfield, flicking a through ball around Atlanta's backline to Jayden Da to the right flank, who cut in and slotted a shot to the back post for an early 1-0 lead.
The Crew stayed active in the second half, as Da broke through for another one-on-one chance in the 50th minute, but Hibbert reacted swiftly to keep the scoreline at 1-0. ATL UTD 2 found a chance of their own as Chong Qui dribbled around his defender on the left side before centering a cross to the back post that was knocked out to Erik Centeno, who wound up for a powerful strike that forced the keeper to make a save.
Atlanta equalized in the 79th minute after centerback Ethan Dudley carried the ball through the midfield, finding Gallardo on the right wing before cutting just inside the 18-yard box to curl a left-footed shot that ricocheted off the back post and into the net.
Gallardo helped take the lead for Atlanta just five minutes later. The Argentine carried the ball up the pitch before he saw Chong Qui make a run towards the back post. Gallardo threaded a pass through the box that met Chong Qui who ripped a shot from a tight angle, slipping his attempt under the keeper to take a 2-1 lead.
Columbus leveled the contest just before heading into stoppage time after Christopher Pearson collected a rebound off a corner, launching a right-footed shot that bounced off the crossbar and over the goal line in the 88th minute.
ATL UTD 2 found one last chance two minutes into stoppage. Javier Armas found Cooper Sanchez on the break, who got a one-on-one chance to seal the match, but the keeper knocked it away for a corner. Armas was able to carve out another chance from the corner, finding Ramzi Qawasmy for a header at point blank range but his shot was narrowly met by the goalie.
With the match knotted at two apiece, teams stepped up to the penalty spot with an extra point up for grabs. Hibbert was crucial to begin the shootout, saving the first two attempts from Columbus. Atlanta converted four of its five penalties to claim the extra point.
Atlanta United 2 (3-8-4, 15 points) returns to the road as the team takes on Crown Legacy FC at Sportsplex at Matthews on Sunday, July 21 (5:00 p.m. ET, Apple TV - MLS Season Pass, Soccer Down Here). Some ATL UTD 2 matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app while the remainder of matches are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Notes:
- ATL UTD 2's 25 shots are the most in club history in MLS NEXT Pro play.
- ATL UTD 2 featured its 13th unique backline in 15 matches.
- ATL UTD 2 won its second shootout of the season.
- Midfielder Javier Armas is the only ATL UTD 2 player to appear in all 1,350 minutes this season.
- Erik Centeno led all players in crosses with seven.
- Academy defender Dominik Chong Qui scored his second goal in two matches.
- Defender Ethan Dudley recorded his first professional assist.
- Matías Gallardo bagged his first goal of the season and registered his third assist of the year.
- Ashton Gordon was tied for first in shots in tonight's match with four.
- Jayden Hibbert made his first appearance since returning from loan with Birmingham Legion FC on July 10. He ended the night with four saves and two saves in the penalty shootout.
Match Summary
Stats:
Shots: 25-14 Atlanta
Shots on target: 8-5 Atlanta
Corner kicks: 6-4 Columbus
Fouls Committed: 10-8 Atlanta
Passing accuracy: 86.5% - 82.7% Columbus
Scoring:
CLB – Jayden Da (Gonzales) 14'
ATL – Matías Gallardo (Dudley) 79'
ATL – Dominik Chong Qui (Gallardo) 84'
CLB – Christopher Pearson (Unassisted) 88'
Disciplinary:
ATL – Kaiden Moore 🟨 44'
CLB – Terron Williams 🟨 49'
CLB – Jacob Greene 🟨 54'
CLB – Brent Adu-Gyamfi 🟨 90'+3'
Penalty Shootout:
ATL
Javier Armas – ✅
Noble Okello – ✅
Matías Gallardo – ❌
Ramzi Qawasmy – ✅
Karim Tmimi – ✅
CLB
Christopher Pearson – ❌
Brent Adu-Gyamfi – ❌
Gibran Rayo – ✅
Terron Williams – ✅
Owen Presthus – ✅
