Atlanta United defeats Club América 1-0, falls short on aggregate

Atlanta United defeated Club America 1-0 Wednesday night in the second leg of its 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal. After just signing as a Homegrown two weeks ago, Jackson Conway scored on his debut with an assist from fellow Homegrown George Bello. Along with Conway, Erik Lopez and Jack Gurr each made their First Team debut, and although Atlanta dominated play throughout the game, it’s 2020 season ends as it fell 3-1 on aggregate.

Atlanta controlled play for much of the first half, owning 67 percent of possession and putting three shots on target. Perhaps the best chance of the half came in the 24th minute when Ezequiel Barco’s effort was saved by Guillermo Ochoa. From the right wing, Franco Escobar swung a ball near the box for Lopez, who flicked a ball into the box for a streaking Barco. The Argentine midfielder one-touched a right-footed shot toward Ochoa’s right to force a diving save, keeping the game level.

Atlanta continued to pile on pressure throughout the second half and again generated the best chance of the half, this time from substitute Cubo Torres in the 68th minute. Fellow second half sub Marcelino Moreno burst down the left flank and played Bello deep into America’s penalty area where the left back crossed for Torres. His first shot was saved by Ochoa, but the rebound spilled back into play where Torres again had an attempt from short range that was again saved. On the ensuing scramble, a loose ball came out for Jake Mulraney who rifled a shot seemingly destined for the top corner that was headed away by an America defender.

But Atlanta finally got on the board 15 minutes later from Conway in the 82nd minute. Again it was Moreno creating in the midfield by combining with Emerson Hyndman, who then played Bello free along the left wing. Bello then crossed toward the back post where Conway, the 18-year-old who signed as a Homegrown just two weeks ago, calmly and powerfully headed into the top corner.

Despite the win, Atlanta’s 2020 season now comes to an end. The dominating effort saw Atlanta force Ochoa into making six saves and forcing America into 20 clearances compared to Atlanta’s three. Club America will advance to the semifinals to play the winner of LAFC and Cruz Azul.

MATCH INFO 

Scotiabank Concacaf Champions Quarterfinals | Leg Two

Atlanta United 1, Club America 0 (Club America advances 3-1 on aggregate)

Exploria Stadium

Orlando, Florida

STATS

Shots: 10-9 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 7-1 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 5-3 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 18-14 America

Clearances: 20-3 America

Offside: 1-1

Possession: 63-37 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 89-79 Atlanta                 

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Jackson Conway (George Bello) 82’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Eric Remedi (yellow) 27’

AME – Santiago Naveda (yellow) 90’

ATL – Marcelino Moreno (red) 90’

ATL – Miles Robinson (yellow) 90+3’

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan ©; George Bello, Miles Robinson, Fernando Meza, Franco Escobar; Eric Remedi (Mattheus Rossetto – 80’), Emerson Hyndman; Ezequiel Barco (Marcelino Moreno – 62’), Erik Lopez (Jack Gurr – 76’), Jake Mulraney (Jackson Conway – 80’); Adam Jahn (Cubo Torres – 62’).

Substitutes not used: Brendan Moore, Ben Lundgaard, George Campbell, Phillip Goodrum, Tyler Wolff.

CLUB AMERICA STARTING LINEUP

Guillermo Ochoa; Jorge Sánchez, Sebastian Cáceres, Ramón Juárez, Alonso Escoboza (Luis Reyes – 86’), Richard Sánchez, Santiago Cáseres, Sebastian Córdova, Leo Suárez (Antonio Lopez – 74’), Federico Viñas (Esteban Lozano – 82’), Roger Martínez (Santiago Naveda – 74’)

Substitutes not used: Fernando Tapia, Oscar Jimenez, Emilio Lara, Luis Fuentes, Olaf Gonzalez, Andres Ibargüen, Miguel Ramirez, Sergio Díaz.

OFFICIALS

Ismael Cornejo (referee), David Moran, (assistant), Geovany Garcia, (assistant), Ivan Barton (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

• This was the third all-time meeting between Club America and Atlanta United, with Atlanta now taking a 2-1-0 advantage.
• Atlanta United defeated Club America 3-2 in the 2019 Campeones Cup, while Club America won 3-0 in the opening leg in March.
• Bello’s assist on Conway’s goal became the first Homegrown to Homegrown goal in Atlanta United history.
• The 7 shots on target matched a season high, also against Club America in Leg One.
• Marcelino Moreno’s red card will carry over into next season, where he’ll serve a one-game suspension in Atlanta’s next Champions League match.
• Erik Lopez made his club debut.
• Jackson Conway made his First Team debut.
• Jack Gurr made his First Team debut.
• Erick Torres attempted three shots on goal.