Atlanta United 2 falls 2-0 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

KENNESAW, Ga. (Sept. 18, 2021) – Atlanta United 2 fell 2-0 against Tampa Bay Rowdies at Fifth Third Bank Stadium Saturday night. 

Tampa Bay opened the match with a goal in the second minute. Steevan Dos Santos served in a ball that was initially saved by Rocco Ríos Novo, but Sebastian Guenzatti was there to clean up the rebound at the near post to put the Rowdies ahead. 

Atlanta eventually found its footing by building out of the back and keeping possession. Darwin Matheus had an opportunity to level the game in the 19th minute when Erik López slipped the Venezuelan behind the backline. However, Matheus took a heavy touch and had to slide to get a shot off, which went over the bar. 

Atlanta continued to push forward in search of the equalizer. In the 31st minute, Amadou Macky Diop headed the ball down to the feet of Matheus, who found an open López on the right side of the box. The 19-year-old forward set up a shot for his left foot, but he was denied by Evan Louro. 

The Rowdies extended its lead in stoppage time in the first half. Dos Santos drove to the end line and picked out Guenzatti near the top of the six-yard box, where the forward buried his second goal of the game. 

Some second-half substitutes for ATL UTD 2 provided a spark, as it continued to push forward for a goal of its own. In the 85th minute, Jackson Conway was played through, and he went one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Homegrown rifled a shot, but Louro made a save and the rebound fell to Phillip Goodrum. He tried to chip the ball back across the frame of the goal, but his aim was too wide. 

ATL UTD 2 (7-10-8, 29 points) will return to action against Birmingham Legion FC on Sept. 22 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 0, Tampa Bay 2

Fifth Third Bank Stadium 

Kennesaw, GA

STATS

Shots: 18-11 Tampa Bay

Shots on Target: 5-2 Tampa Bay

Corner kicks: 4-0 Tampa Bay

Fouls committed: 19-10 Tampa Bay

Offside: 1-0 Tampa Bay

Possession: 65-35 Atlanta 

Passing Accuracy: 87-76 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

TBR – Sebastian Guenzatti 2’

TBR -–Sebastian Guenzatti (Steevan Dos Santos) 45+1’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

TBR – Sebastian Delgaard (yellow) 27’

ATL – Josh Bauer (yellow) 28’

TBR – Jordan Scarlett (yellow) 53’

ATL – Mikey Ambrose (yellow) 71’

TBR – Laurence Wyke (yellow) 77’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Mikey Ambrose (Aiden McFadden – 79’), Josh Bauer, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Bryce Washington; Robbie Mertz, Abdoulaye Diop, Ajani Fortune (Phillip Goodrum – 75’); Aiden McFadden; Amadou Macky Diop (Jackson Conway – 67’), Erik López (Connor Stanley – 67’), Darwin Matheus (Matías Benítez – 79’)

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Brendan Lambe

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP

Evan Louro; Jordan Scarlett, Forrest Lasso, Aarón Guillén; Lewis Hilton, Sebastian Dalgaard, Laurence Wyke (Jordan Doherty -81’), Leo Fernandes; Steevan Dos Santos (Lucky Mkosana – 75’), Sebastian Guenzatti © (William Conner Antley – 81’), Yann Ekra (Juan Tejada – 88’)

Substitutes not used: Dayonn Harris, Raiko Arozarena, Jordan Adebayo-Smith

OFFICIALS

Melvin Rivas, (referee), Brian Marshall, (assistant), Ben Rigel, (assistant), Kyle Johnston, (fourth official)

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.