Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Inter Miami CF II on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Stadium in the club's home finale. Midfielder Javier Armas now leads MLS NEXT Pro in minutes after going the full 90 minutes for the 27th time this season.
Despite Atlanta beginning on the front foot and peppering Miami's defense with shots throughout the first 45, the visitors were the first to break through in the 32nd minute. Defender Nykolas Sessock played a ball through to Ryan Carmichael, who met the ball on the left side of the penalty box and chipped it over Jayden Hibbert for the decisive goal.
ATL UTD 2 came close to equalizing four minutes later when Nick Firmino corralled a deflection outside the box. The Brazilian cut towards the middle of the pitch and launched a shot from 25-yards out which forced Miami's keeper Cole Jensen to dive and make a save that went out for a corner. Atlanta was not able to create many more close opportunities for the remainder of the half and went into the break down by one.
In the 55th minute, Armas picked out Matías Gallardo in the midfield with space to work with. The Argentine saw an opening from distance and got off a left-footed shot heading for the far post which again forced Jensen to make a diving save. Later in the 80th minute, Firmino tried his luck from distance again when he flicked the ball over himself and turned for a shot that narrowly missed the framework.
Atlanta's best look of the match came in the waning moments. Noble Okello slipped a pass through Miami's defense towards the right back post that met the feet of Firmino. The midfielder looked to go across goal and sent in a shot but Jensen made the save before it could cross the goal line.
Atlanta United 2 (7-13-7, 32 points) travels to take on Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park in its 2024 season finale on Sunday, Sept. 29 (3:00 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:
- Midfielder Javier Armas is the only ATL UTD 2 player to appear in all 2,430 minutes this season. Armas leads MLS NEXT Pro in minutes played this season.
- Dominik Chong Qui led all players in crosses with four.
- Nick Firmino and Noble Okello each led all players in shots with five.
Stats:
Shots: 22-6 Atlanta
Shots on target: 6-2 Miami
Corner kicks: 7-0 Atlanta
Fouls Committed: 15-10 Atlanta
Passing accuracy: 90.5% - 90.0% Atlanta
Scoring:
MIA – Ryan Carmichael (Sessock) 32'
Disciplinary:
MIA – Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida 🟨 15'
ATL – Noble Okello 🟨 87'
MIA – Nykolas Sessock 🟨 89'
