Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Charleston Battery Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in its 2020 USL Championship season opener. Atlanta United Academy players Tyler Wolff and Coleman Gannon made their professional debuts along with Phillip Goodrum and Daniel Steedman. Modou Jadama, Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Ben Lundgaard, Jack Gurr and Lamin Jawneh made their team debuts.
ATL UTD 2 dictated the game from the outset and nearly took the lead in the third minute. Amir Bashti sent Gurr into the box with a well-timed through ball where the Newcastle native attempted to poke it past goalkeeper Phil Breno, but his shot bounced just wide of the left post.
Later in the 29th minute, Gurr sent in a cross from the right side where it met the head of Goodrum on the left side of six-yard-box, but his attempt soared just over crossbar. Atlanta produced a pair of chances just before the half when Bashti sent in a free kick from the right side to the edge of the six where Kamdem Fewo had a free header, but his shot also was lifted over the bar. Then in the 43rd minute, Bashti took a shot from distance that Breno narrowly tipped off the crossbar for a corner.
Charleston took the lead in the second half from the penalty spot. Will Reilly was ruled to have committed a handling infraction inside the box as Zeiko Lewis attempted to flick the ball to Dante Marini who made a run into the box. Lewis hesitated in his run-up and sent Lundgaard diving to the left as he scored to the right side in the 63rd minute.
ATL UTD 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) returns to action Sunday, March 15 against Louisville City FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (3:30 p.m., ESPN+).
