Atlanta United wins 1-0 vs. LD Alajuelense in Leg Two of Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16

 Atlanta United defeated LD Alajuelense 1-0 Tuesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Leg Two of its Round of 16 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL) matchup, advancing to the Quarterfinals on an aggregate score of 2-0. Atlanta became the second MLS team to advance to the Quarterfinals in three consecutive years during the current era of the tournament (since 2008).

Jürgen Damm scored the game’s lone goal, and his first with Atlanta United, in the first minute of stoppage time. In his first appearance of the season, Marcelino Moreno played a through ball to Ezequiel Barco down the left side of the field which created a two-on-one situation with Alajuelense goalkeeper Mauricio Vargas. Barco attempted to round Vargas, but his touch went into the path of Damm, who easily tapped in the goal.

Atlanta controlled the game throughout the night, dominating possession and out-shooting Alajuelense 15-7. Nine of Atlanta’s 15 shots came in the second half, with five going on target. Moreno and Barco paced the team in shots with four a piece, while Damm, who entered the game at halftime, led all players with two shots on target and five crosses.

Atlanta will face the winner of Philadelphia Union vs. Saprissa, which the Union currently leads 1-0 after the first leg. Atlanta’s Leg One match of the Quarterfinals will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium the week of April 26.

MATCH INFO 

Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 | Leg Two

Atlanta United 1, LD Alajuelense 0

Fifth Third Bank Stadium

Kennesaw, Georgia

STATS

Shots: 15-7 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 5-1 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 5-5

Fouls committed: 14-10 Atlanta

Offside: 3-0 Atlanta

Possession: 67-33 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 88-73 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Jürgen Damm (Ezequiel Barco, Marcelino Moreno) 90+1’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

None

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Anton Walkes, George Bello, Miles Robinson, Brooks Lennon; Santiago Sosa, Franco Ibarra (Jürgen Damm – 45’); Marcelino Moreno, Ezequiel Barco, Emerson Hyndman; Josef Martínez © (Lisandro López – 66’).

Substitutes not used: Jake Mulraney, Mikey Ambrose, George Campbell, Ben Lundgaard, Tyler Wolff.

LD ALAJUELENSE STARTING LINEUP

Mauricio Vargas; Fernán Faerrón, Daniel Arreola, Júnior Díaz; Yurguin Román (Geancarlo Castro – 84’), José Salvatierra (Alexis Gamboa – 70’), José Miguel Cubero ©, Brandon Aguilera (Aarón Suárez – 76’), Bernald Alfaro, Adrián Alonso, Martínez Batista; Jurguens Montenegro.

Substitutes not used: Santiago Van der Putte, Ian Lawrence.

OFFICIALS

Adonai Escobedo (referee), Miguel Hernandez, (assistant), Ibrahim Martinez, (assistant), Diego Montaño (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

• Jürgen Damm scored his first goal with Atlanta United
• Atlanta United became the second MLS team to advance to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year during the current era of SCCL
• The clean sheet marked the first time Atlanta opened its season with back-to-back shutouts.
• Ezequiel Barco led the team with four chances created