Atlanta United 2 draws 1-1 vs. Charleston Battery

KENNESAW, Ga. (Sept. 15, 2021) – Atlanta United 2 played to a 1-1 draw against Charleston Battery at Fifth Third Bank Stadium Wednesday night. Jackson Conway netted Atlanta’s lone goal in the match.

On a rainy Wednesday night, Atlanta looked for a quick start in its first game at home in more than a month. Robbie Mertz nearly put Atlanta ahead in just the fifth minute. Mikey Ambrose went to work down the left flank and served a low-driven cross to an open Mertz near the penalty spot. The midfielder tried to burry a left-footed shot across his body, but his aim was too high.

In the 11th minute, ATL UTD 2 jumped on the scoresheet first. Charleston had possession deep in its defensive third and tried to swing the ball, but Conway intercepted the pass between the center backs at the top off the penalty box. The forward calmly took a touch to set up a right-footed shot and buried the opportunity. 

However, Charleston leveled the game in the 60th minute. Angelo Kelly-Rosales played a ball back to Robbie Crawford who hit a one-time shot that took a deflection on its way into goal. 

Darwin Matheus looked to make an immediate impact after coming in as a substitute in the 64th minute. The Venezuelan almost found the back of the net when he took on the Charleston keeper one-on-one. Matheus tried to chip the goalkeeper, but the attempt was just off target. 

In stoppage time, Atlanta continued to push forward in search of the game winner. Connor Stanley drove to the end line and slipped a cross to the back post that almost reached Aiden McFadden, but a Charleston defender slid to clear the ball out.

ATL UTD 2 (7-9-8, 29 points) will return to action against Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sept. 18 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 1, Charleston 1

Fifth Third Bank Stadium 

Kennesaw, GA

STATS

Shots: 17-12 Charleston

Shots on Target: 5-2 Charleston

Corner kicks: 3-2 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 15-8 Atlanta

Offside: 41-40 Atlanta

Possession: 59-41 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 88-81 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Jackson Conway 11’

CHS – Robbie Crawford (Angelo Kelly-Rosales) 60’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Abdoulaye Diop (yellow) 4’

ATL – Bryce Washington (yellow) 44’

ATL – Jackson Conway (yellow) 53’ 

CHS - Angelo Kelly-Rosales (yellow) 56’

CHS – Robbie Crawford (yellow) 67’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Mikey Ambrose, Noah Cobb, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Bryce Washington (Josh Bauer – 45’); Robbie Mertz (Connor Stanley – 71’), Abdoulaye Diop, Brendan Lambe (Ajani Fortune – 64’); Aiden McFadden; Amadou Macky Diop (Phillip Goodrum – 86’), Jackson Conway (Darwin Matheus – 64’)

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, David Mejia

CHARLESTON BATTERY STARTING LINEUP

Joe Kuzminsky; Angelo Kelly-Rosales, A.J. Paterson, Erik McCue, Jarad van Schaik ©; Burke Fahling, Zeiko Lewis (Joshua Penn – 66’), Robbie Crawford, Stavros Zarokostas (Geobel Pérez Oquendo – 75’); Nicque Daley (Dionysius Harmon – 66’), Claudio Repetto (Joel Bunting – 75’)

Substitutes not used: Patrick Hogan, Paul Lewis

OFFICIALS

Sergii Demianchuk, (referee), Meghan Mullen, (assistant), Kevin Huet, (assistant), Madzid Coric, (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• Jackson Conway scored his first goal of the season with ATL UTD 2. 

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.