Atlanta United 2 battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point versus Memphis 901 FC Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Danial Sebhatu scored in his professional debut, while Darwin Matheus netted his first goal of the season.
Atlanta controlled possession early in the match and saw an early opportunity in the third minute, when Caleb Wiley drove to the end line and served a cross to an open Robbie Mertz, but the midfielder placed the ball too high over the goal.
However, Memphis found the back of the net first in the 21st minute. Andre Reynolds played a through ball to Kyle Murphy who poked it past Alec Kann and finished the play on an open net. A few minutes later in the 27th minute, Murphy tallied his second goal for Memphis when the ball fell right to his feet near the top of the six-yard box.
Before the conclusion of the first half, a scuffle and some words were shared between the two clubs, which resulted in red cards for MatÃas BenÃtez and Mark Segbers as well as a yellow card for Kann. Both sides entered the second half with ten men on the field.
ATL UTD 2 began to chip away Memphis’s two-goal lead with a goal of its own in the 54th minute. Aiden McFadden drove down the right flank and sent in a cross. Brady Scott tried to punch the ball away, but he misplayed the ball and it hit off the chest of Raul Gonzalez and fell to Sebhatu. The 16-year-old forward hammered home a left-footed shot off the half-volley.
Then in stoppage time, Atlanta found the equalizer to earn the point at home. Matheus took on Reynolds near the right corner of the 18-yard box. As the Venezuelan forward cut the ball back to his left, Reynolds tripped him inside the box and the foul resulted in a penalty kick. Matheus stepped up and buried a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner of the goal, while Scott guessed the other corner.
ATL UTD 2 (3-4-4, 13 points) will return to action against Indy Eleven, July 7 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 2, MEM 2
Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Kennesaw, GA
STATS
Shots: 13-6 Atlanta
Shots on Target: 4-2 Atlanta
Corner kicks: 3-1 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 15-13 Atlanta
Offside: 3-1 Atlanta
Possession: 71-29 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 86-57 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
MEM – Kyle Murphy (Andre Reynolds) 21’
MEM – Kyle Murphy 27’
ATL – Danial Sebhatu 54’
ATL – Darwin Matheus 90+4’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – MatÃas BenÃtez (red) 45+5’
MEM – Mark Segbers (red) 45+5’
ATL – Alex Kann (yellow) 45+5’
ATL – Aiden McFaddden (yellow) 57’
ATL – Danial Sebhatu (yellow) 66’
MEM – Micahel Salazar (yellow) 80’
ATL – Caleb Wiley (yellow) 84’
MEM – Brecc Evans (yellow) 88’
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Alec Kann; Bryce Washington, Bradley Kamdem Fewo © (Connor Stanley – 70’), Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden; Chris Allan, Robbie Mertz, Will Reilly (Ajani Fortune – 60’); Danial Sebhatu (Darwin Matheus – 74’), MatÃas BenÃtez, Caleb Wiley
Substitutes not used: Rocco RÃos Novo, Alexander Garuba
MEMPHIS 901 FC STARTING LINEUP
Brady Scott; Andre Reynolds, Zach Carroll, Brecc Evans, Mark Segbers; Leston Paul, Dominic Oduro (Raul Gonzalez – 45’), Laurent Kissiedou (Francis Atuahene – 83’), Mitch Guitar; Kadeem Dacres (Niall Logue – 72’), Kyle Murphy (Michael Salazar – 64’)
Substitutes not used: Jake Gelnovatch, Max Talley, Rashawn Dally
OFFICIALS
Joshua Belk (referee), Walt Heatherly, (assistant), Zachary McWhorter, (assistant), Madzid Coric, (fourth official)
TEAM NOTES
- Danial Sebhatu made his professional debut and scored his first goal.
- Darwin Matheus netted his first goal of the season and with the club.
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.
