Atlanta United 2 defeated Ottawa Fury FC 3-2 Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. A pair of Homegrown forwards led Atlanta to victory as Andrew Carleton scored a brace while Patrick Okonkwo opened his account with his first goal for the club.
ATL UTD 2 scored with the fastest goal in team history just 17 seconds into the match. Fury FC opened the match with a back pass to center back Chris Mannella who was immediately met with pressure from Okonkwo. Mannella launched a long ball down the right side where Kevin Kratz intercepted and played it to Okonkwo. The forward passed back to Kratz who one-timed a through ball in the air for Carleton down the left side. The 19-year-old dribbled into the box and skillfully chipped the ball over Callum Irving on the edge of the six-yard box for a 1-0 lead.
Okonkwo doubled Atlanta’s lead in the 26th minute. Jack Metcalf sent in a pin-point cross on the ground to Amir Bashti where the midfielder one-timed a shot inside the six-yard box, but had it saved by Irving. Luiz Fernando nearly scored off the rebound, but Mannella attempted a clearance which deflected off Okonkwo and into the net.
Ottawa pulled one goal back with a penalty kick in the 39th minute. Wesly Decas was ruled to have fouled Carl Haworth inside the 18-yard box. Wal Fall stepped to the spot and scored with a shot to the bottom left corner.
Fury FC later equalized in the 70th minute off a set piece. Ottawa won a free kick on the right side and sent a ball towards the back post that fell for Maxim Tissot where he sent a low cross for Hadji Barry who redirected it past Alec Kann.
Carleton, however, handed ATL UTD 2 the lead two minutes later. Amir Bashti received a pass on the right wing and delivered a cross that drifted on-frame at the near side, which caught Irving by surprise who was initially positioned at the back post. Irving rushed back across the mouth of goal and knocked the ball down, but Carleton pounced on the loose ball and drilled it in the net from close range for his third goal of the season.
ATL UTD 2 (6-16-5, 23 points) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 14 against Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. EST at Al Lang Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
