Atlanta United fell 5-2 to Memphis 901 FC at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday night.
Atlanta opened the scoring through captain Robbie Mertz in the 18th minute. Mathieu Brick placed a ball into the middle of the Memphis penalty area between two 901 FC defenders. After taking a bounce, Zach Carroll half-cleared to Mertz, who volleyed a shot toward net. Goalkeeper Trey Muse was able to get his body in front of the shot but was unable to keep the ATL UTD 2 captain’s effort out of the goal.
Memphis equalized in the 25th minute through Laurent Kissiedou. Rece Buckmaster was sent down the right flank by a long ball from midfield and ran into the Atlanta box before a lay-off pass to the Kissiedou. Rocco Ríos Novo was able to get a hand on the Ivorian’s first-time shot, but it still found its way to the back of the net.
Phillip Goodrum and Luiz Fernando combined for two more Memphis goals in the first half. In the 26th minute, Fernando used fancy footwork to dribble into the Atlanta penalty area before Goodrum took the ball off him and rolled it into goal. Fernando made another long run with the ball prior to finding Goodrum at the 18-yard line. The striker’s shot deflected off an Atlanta defender and in to seal a brace for Goodrum in the 31st minute.
Andy Sullins started the second half off with a goal for the visitors. Brick found Raimar after pouncing on a loose pass from a Memphis defender. The Brazilian found Darwin Matheus, who faked a shot with his left foot before taking another with his right. The shot beat Muse, but Sullins was able to score his first senior goal from close-range following a goal-line block from Carroll.
The hosts re-established a two-goal advantage in the 70th minute. Fernando was once again let loose down the right wing, getting to the end line before sending in a cross. Goodrum and Grant Howard battled for the ball; however, it came off the Atlanta defender before falling to the feet of Aaron Molloy, who gently tucked in a finish inside the left post.
Lucas Turci scored Memphis’ fifth and final goal, taking a Buckmaster pass into the box and finding the top corner with a powerful shot.
ATL UTD 2 (2-10-1, 7 points) returns home to Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia to take on Loudoun United on Saturday, June 11 (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 2, Memphis 901 5
AutoZone Park
Memphis, Tennessee
STATS
Shots: 17-17
Shots on Target: 8-4 Memphis
Corner kicks: 6-4 Memphis
Fouls committed: 13-12 Memphis
Offsides: 3-2 Memphis
Possession: 51.7-48.3 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 76.9-76 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARYATL – Robbie Mertz 18' (unassisted)
MEM – Laurent Kissiedou 25’ (Rece Buckmaster)
MEM – Phillip Goodrum 26’ (Luiz Fernando)
MEM – Phillip Goodrum 30’ (Luiz Fernando)
ATL – Andy Sullins 46’ (unassisted)
MEM – Aaron Molloy 70’ (unassisted)
MEM – Lucas Turci 83’ (Rece Buckmaster)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Andy Sullins 3’ (yellow)
MEM – Phillip Goodrum 4’ (yellow)
MEM – Jeremy Kelly 33’ (yellow)
ATL – Erik Centeno 68’ (yellow)
ATL – Darwin Matheus 85’ (yellow)
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Rocco Ríos Novo; Aiden McFadden (Erik Centeno – 60’), Grant Howard, Efrain Morales, Mathieu Brick (Jonantan Villal – 73’); Ajani Fortune, Robbie Mertz ©, Nick Firmino; David Mejía (Raimar – HT), Luke Brennan (Darwin Matheus – 15’), Andy Sullins (Tristan Trager – 60’).
Substitutes not used: Dagoberto Romero, Emenike Nwogu.
MEMPHIS 901 STARTING LINEUP
Trey Muse; Rece Buckmaster, Zach Carroll, Graham Smith, Patrick Seagrist; Chris Allan (Lucas Turci – 72’), Aaron Molloy ©; Luiz Fernando (Devin Boyce – 84’), Laurent Kissiedou (Derek Dodson – 56’), Jeremy Kelly (Niall Logue – 84’); Phillip Goodrum (David Egbo – 84’).Substitutes not used: John Berner, Edward Kizza.
OFFICIALS
Thomas Snyder (referee), Logan Reeves (assistant), Ryan Starr (assistant), Benjamin Meyer (fourth official)
TEAM NOTES
- Andy Sullins makes first professional start
- Andy Sullins scores first ATL UTD 2 goal
- Robbie Mertz scores third goal in two games
