Atlanta United 2 midfielder Aiden McFadden was voted USL Championship Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2021 season. McFadden scored a pair of goals in Atlanta’s 5-0 win over FC Tulsa, and he netted another brace in Atlanta’s 2-2 draw with Memphis 901 FC, putting him tied for second in the league with four goals scored.
With an early 1-0 lead over Tulsa, the Pennsylvania native quickly grabbed his first goals for the season in a span of three minutes. In the 36th minute, Connor Stanley gained possession in the final third and drove to the end line to cross it to a crashing McFadden for the one-time finish (watch goal). Then three minutes later, the right back struck again with a header off of a cross from Ambrose (watch goal).
In the match versus Memphis, McFadden opened the scoring in the 28th minute. MatÃas BenÃtez won a free kick about 25 yards out from goal. The midfielder stepped up and ripped a right-footed shot to the top left corner that went through the gloves of John Berner and into the back of the net (watch goal). Memphis would go onto score goals in the 45th minute and the 73rd minute to make it a 2-1 game in its favor. With just moments remaining in the match, the 22-year-old found the equalizer when Memphis’ goalkeeper parried away a cross directly to McFadden near the penalty spot, where he hammered home a right-footed volley to even the score at two (watch goal).
McFadden received 71 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL Championship market. This marks the first time McFadden has been voted Player of the Week and the third time that an ATL UTD 2 player has won the award.
ATL UTD 2 (2-1-2, 8 points) will return to action against Birmingham Legion FC, May 30 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 3:30 p.m. ET).
ABOUT ATL UTD 2
ATL UTD 2 is owned and operated by AMB Sports & Entertainment and is the United Soccer League (USL) affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. ATL UTD 2 joined USL for its expansion 2018 season and plays its home matches at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
