ATLANTA, Ga. (April 7, 2025) - Atlanta United 2 hosted Inter Miami CF II in a multi-day, multi-venue affair, winning 3-2 to earn its first win of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. Moises Tablante and Luke Brennan scored their first goals of the season, while Academy player Gabriel Wesseh made his professional debut. The match originally started on Sunday, April 6 at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw, but was abandoned in the 24th minute with a 1-1 score due to inclement weather. The match was resumed Monday, April 7 in a closed-door match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The game started quickly for Inter Miami II, scoring in the third minute. Midfielder Daniel Pinter received a through-ball on the right side, and took a touch before slotting the ball across the box to a sliding Mateo Saja to go up 1-0.
Three minutes later, Atlanta equalized with a flawless counter-press. Cayman Togashi pressed the Miami centerback and poked the ball away toward Tablante on the left, who dribbled one-on-one with the goalkeeper and squeezed the finish in the near post to level the score.
After a lengthy box-to-box spell, goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert cleared a curling ball from midfield toward Tablante at the top of the Miami box. Tablante took a touch around the defender and fired a shot that rattled the top of the crossbar. Moments later, the referee's whistle blew due to inclement weather, and the game was paused. The game continued from 25th minute the next day.
In the 33rd minute, Tablante continued his strong performance with a thunderous shot outside the box after another successful counter-press, but the looping ball struck the left post to keep the score level.
Atlanta began to take charge of the game offensively, and its pressure turned into a goal in the 39th minute. Ryan Carmichael turned on the right wing and beat his defender before pushing the ball toward a striding Brennan, whose first attempt was saved, but he finished the rebound to take Atlanta into halftime up 2-1.
Atlanta began the second half the way they ended the first, with offensive dominance and a goal to show for it. Togashi won the ball at half-field, and the midfield trio combined for a quick counter attack to send Tablante through on goal. One touch around the defender and a punishing finish gave the 5-Stripes a 3-1 lead in the 55th minute.
Substitute Javier Armas took an audacious chance in the 69th minute, attempting to catch a sleeping Miami side with a free kick from midfield. Armas' chipping-shot attempt had goalkeeper Matias Marin chasing, but the crossbar prevented a fourth goal.
Inter Miami brought one goal back in finished. In the 89th minute, Cristian Ortiz received a ball over the top and switched it to Diego Rey inside Atlanta's 18-yard box. Rey touched it to Preston Plambeck who finished into the roof of the net to cut the deficit by one. Miami pressed for the equalizer, but Atlanta's defense stood firm to secure its first win of the regular season.
Atlanta United 2 (1-1-2, 5 points) returns to action Thursday, April 10 when it travels to Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). Some ATL UTD 2 matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app while the remainder of matches are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
