Atlanta United 2 played to a 2-2 draw against The Miami FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium Wednesday night. Jack Gurr scored his first professional goal while Amadou Macky Diop scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season to hand Atlanta its third draw of the year.
Atlanta absorbed pressure in the opening minutes before settling in and taking the lead in the 18th minute. Abdoulaye Diop picked off a pass in ATL UTD 2’s penalty area and dribbled down the left side before switching the field with a long ball to the right side for a wide open Gurr. The fullback was given plenty of space, which he freely dribbled in to before unleashing a right-footed shot from just beyond the 18-yard-box that picked out the top-left corner. It was the 24-year-old’s first professional goal and Diop’s first assist.
ATL UTD 2 was awarded a penalty minutes later when Macky Diop was brought down in the box by Hassan Ndam. The forward stepped up to the spot and chipped the ball down the center of the goal to put Atlanta ahead 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
Miami hit back a minute later when Romario Williams scored from close range in the 24th minute. Williams again found the back of the net just before halftime to level the match in first half stoppage time.
Atlanta pushed for the go-ahead goal and nearly found it in the 52nd minute when Baboucarr Njie played a give-and-go down right side with Macky Diop and attempted to poke the ball past Miami goalkeeper Bryant Martin Gammiero, but his attempt was saved.
Goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard tied his season-high with six saves, including a save of the week nominee coming off a shot from Williams in the 58th minute. The Jamaican forward nearly picked out the top-right corner with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, but an out-stretched Lundgaard palmed it off the crossbar and collected the loose ball to preserve the tie. Lundgaard leads the USL Championship with 35 saves.
Atlanta’s best chance to take the lead in the second half came in the 83rd minute through Lamin Jawneh. The Gambian forward dribbled down left side and created distance inside the box before firing a left-footed shot, but his attempt at the near post struck the side netting.
ATL UTD 2 (1-6-3, 6 points) returns to action Saturday, Aug. 22 when it continues on the road at Al Lang Stadium against Tampa Bay Rowdies (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 2, Miami 2
Riccardo Silva Stadium
Miami, Florida
STATS
Shots: 22-9 Miami
Shots on Target: 8-5 Miami
Corner kicks: 6-2 Miami
Fouls committed: 15-11 Atlanta
Offside: 2-0 Miami
Possession: 53-47 Miami
Passing Accuracy: 85-82 Miami
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Jack Gurr 18’ (Abdoulaye Diop) [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Amadou Macky Diop 23’ (penalty) [HIGHLIGHT]
MIA – Romario Williams 24’ (Prince Saydee, Vincent Bezecourt)
MIA – Romario Williams 45+1’ (Vincent Bezecourt)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
MIA – Hassan Ndam 22’ (yellow)
MIA – Prince Saydee 27’ (yellow)
ATL – Modou Jadama 60’ (yellow)
ATL – Amadou Macky Diop 75’ (yellow)
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Ben Lundgaard; Caleb Wiley, Efrain Morales (Matthew Edwards – 64’), Modou Jadama ©, Jack Gurr; William Reilly (Daniel Steedman – 78’), Baboucarr Njie (Ajani Fortune – 69’), Abdoulaye Diop (Lamin Jawneh – 78’); Amadou Macky Diop, Coleman Gannon, Phillip Goodrum (Amir Bashti – 70’).
Substitutes not used: Patrick Nielsen.
THE MIAMI FC STARTING LINEUP
Bryant Martin Gammiero; Bah Othello, Lance Rozeboom ©, Brian James (Marco Franco – 70’), Hassan Ndam; Vincent Bezecourt, Harrison Heath, Tomas Granitto (Jalen Markey – 82’); Sebastian Velasquez (Miguel González – 82’), Romario Williams (Mohamed Thiaw – 59’), Prince Saydee (Janos Loebe – 70’).
Substitutes not used: Héctor Morales, Brian Sylvestre.
OFFICIALS
Natalie Simon (referee), Juan Pablo Casas (assistant), Diego Lucio (assistant), Alejo Calume (fourth)
TEAM NOTES
- Jack Gurr scored his first professional goal
- Abdoulaye Diop recorded his first professional assist
- Amadou Macky Diop scored his fifth goal of the year and his first penalty
- Ben Lundgaard tied his season-high with six saves
