In their second meeting, Atlanta United 2 again went toe-to-toe with the defending United Soccer League champions Louisville City FC, but lost 2-1 on a last-minute penalty kick Saturday night in front of 8,683 fans at Louisville Slugger field. Laurent Kissiedou scored his second goal of the season while Alessandro Castro made his professional debut, becoming the fourth current Atlanta United Academy player to debut with ATL UTD 2 this season.
“I’m proud of the team today despite a result that really stings,” said ATL UTD 2 head coach Scott Donnelly. “This is a game that both shows our ability as a group, and moves our players forward in their development. To come into Louisville and stretch them the way we did should give our group confidence. Unfortunate in the end, but a big step forward.”
ATL UTD 2 started the match fast and produced two shots on goal and three corners in the opening 10 minutes. Atlanta nearly took the lead in the 20th minute when forward Jon Gallagher ripped a shot from the outside of the 18-yard box that was destined for the top-right corner, but a diving save from Louisville goalkeeper Gregory Ranjitsingh kept the match scoreless.
Moments later, Louisville struck first in the 24th minute after Devon Williams’ shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection and fell behind the Atlanta defense. Forward Cameron Lancaster ran on to the loose ball and buried a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to put the home side up 1-0.
ATL UTD 2 kept applying pressure and fought back to equalize in the 31st minute. Lagos Kunga ran right at the Louisville backline before laying off a pass for Laurent Kissiedou. The Ivorian rifled a left-footed shot from outside of the box which took a deflection and found the back of the net for his second goal of the season. It was also Kunga’s second assist of the year.
Each side pushed for the game-winner before Louisville substitute Luke Spencer drew a foul inside of the box in the 90th minute to earn a penalty. Ilija Ilic stepped up to the spot and converted his attempt in the top-right corner. Atlanta United Academy player Will Crain, 18, started at center back for the second consecutive match while Castro, 18, made his professional debut when he entered as a substitute in the second half.
ATL UTD 2 (2-5-3, 9 points) returns to action Friday, May 25 against North Carolina FC at 7:00 p.m. EST at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
MATCH RESOURCES
LINE SCORE
Atlanta 1, Louisville 2
Louisville Slugger Field
Louisville, Kentucky
STATS
Shots: 5-26 Louisville
Corner kicks: 3-7 Louisville
Fouls committed: 14-15 Louisville
Saves: 4-2 Atlanta
Offside: 1-2 Louisville
SCORING SUMMARY
LOU – Cameron Lancaster 24’
ATL – Laurent Kissiedou (Lagos Kunga) 31’
LOU – Ilija Ilic (penalty) 90+1’
DISCIPLINESUMMARY
ATL – Laurent Kissiedou (yellow) 69’
ATL – Jose Carranza (yellow) 72’
LOU – Paco Craig (yellow) 80’
LOU - Alexis Souahy (yellow) 85’
ATL – Shawn Nicklaw (yellow) 90’
ATL – Jon Gallagher (yellow) 90+2’
ATLANTA UNITED 2 STARTING LINEUP
Paul Christensen; Will Crain, Andrew Kendall-Moullin, Jack Metcalf ©, Jose Hernandez (Shawn Nicklaw – 45’); Oliver Shannon, Jose Carranza; Laurent Kissiedou (Alessandro Castro – 78’), Lagos Kunga (Kevin Barajas – 82’), Jon Gallagher; Devon Sandoval.
Substitutes not used: Nico Caraux, George Campbell, Kendall Edwards.
LOUISVILLE CITY FC STARTING LINEUP
Gregory Ranjitsingh; Sean Totsch; Paco Craig, Alexis Souahy; Paolo DelPiccolo ©, Kyle Smith, Devon Williams, Oscar Jimenez; Niall McCabe (Ilija Ilic – 68’), George Davis IV (Luke Spencer – 53’); Cameron Lancaster (Magnus Rasmussen – 73’).
Substitutes not used: Tim Dobrowolski, Chris Hubbard, Pat McMahon.
ATTENDANCE
8,683
OFFICIALS
Ismir Pekmic (referee), Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein (assistant), Jeffrey Swartzel (assistant), Chris Schurfranz (fourth).
TEAM NOTES
- Laurent Kissiedou scored his second goal of the season
- Lagos Kunga recorded his second assist of the season
- Jose Hernandez made his first start of the season
- Atlanta United Academy midfielder Alessandro Castro made his professional debut when he entered as a substitute in the second half
- Defender Will Crain made his second start of the season
