Atlanta United 2 earned its first point of the 2020 USL Championship season with a 2-2 draw against Memphis 901 FC. Coleman Gannon scored his first professional goal, while striker Jackson Conway found the back of the net for the second consecutive match.
Atlanta got off to a quick start as Conway produced the first scoring chance of the match inside six minutes. Jack Gurr found space down the right and crossed into the box, where Conway looped a header to the far post, but it was saved by Jimmy Hague. In the 21st minute, Conway opened the scoring for the second-straight match.
Academy midfielder Ajani Fortune, in his first USL start, played a ball down the left wing to Phillip Goodrum. He dribbled into the box and squared a ball near the penalty spot, where Conway finished with a low shot by Hague for the 1-0 Atlanta lead. Right before halftime, Memphis took advantage of a set piece and equalized through Brandon Allen to make the halftime score 1-1.
ATL UTD 2 took its second lead of the night through a debut goal by Academy midfielder Gannon. Modou Jadama picked up the ball near the center circle and dribbled into the attacking half and played a through ball to an open Gannon down the middle of the pitch. The 17-year-old turned and took a couple dribbles into the box before sending a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner for the 2-1 lead.
That lead held up until the 93rd minute when Memphis’ Cal Jennings scored from a tight angle. Atlanta had a couple of dangerous free kick opportunities in the last minute of stoppage time but was unable to find a winner.
ATL UTD 2 (0-2-1, 1 point) returns to action Friday, July 24 when they travel to face Charleston Battery at Patriot’s Point Soccer Complex (8:00 p.m., ESPN+).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 2, Memphis 2
Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Kennesaw, Georgia
STATS
Shots: 21-11 Memphis
Shots on Target: 4-4
Corner kicks: 6-3 Memphis
Fouls committed: 17-13 Memphis
Offside: 1-1
Possession: 54-46 Memphis
Passing Accuracy: 84-81 Memphis
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Jackson Conway 21’ (Phillip Goodrum) [HIGHLIGHT]
MEM – Brandon Allen 44’ (Liam Doyle)
ATL – Coleman Gannon 57’ (Modou Jadama) [HIGHLIGHT]
MEM – Cal Jennings 90+2’ (Raul Gonzalez)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
MEM – Liam Doyle (yellow) 16’
ATL – Amadou Macky Diop (yellow) 67’
MEM – Tristan Hodge (yellow) 74’
ATL – Jack Gurr (yellow) 78’
MEM – Mark Segbers (yellow) 90’
ATL – Lamin Jawneh (yellow) 90+6’
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Ben Lundgaard; Jack Gurr, Modou Jadama ©, Garrison Tubbs, Caleb Wiley (Abdoulaye Diop 58’); Matthew Edwards (David Mejia 80’), Ajani Fortune (Amadou Macky Diop 58’), William Reilly; Phillip Goodrum (Daniel Steedman 67’), Coleman Gannon, Jackson Conway (Lamin Jawneh 80’).
Substitutes not used: Vicente Reyes, Baboucarr Njie.
MEMPHIS 901 FC STARTING LINEUP
Jimmy Hague; Tristan Hodge (Raul Gonzalez 84’), Liam Doyle ©, Mark Segbers, Rece Buckmaster; Keanu Marsh-Brown (Rafael Mentzingen 61’), Jean-Christophe Koffi (Leston Paul 81’), Michael Reed, Duane Muckette; Pierre Da Silva, Brandon Allen (Cal Jennings 61’).
Substitutes not used: Jackson Morse, James George Barkei, Jose Baxter.
OFFICIALS
Sergii Demianchuk (referee), Ben Rigel (assistant), Dallas Rosier (assistant), Amin Hadzic (fourth)
TEAM NOTES
Atlanta United 2 fielded its youngest-ever starting XI at an average age of 19.6
Â
. It’s the second time the team had an average age under 20.0, with the first coming last July at NYRB II (19.9)