HUNTSVILLE, Al. (May 3, 2025) - Atlanta United 2 tied 2-2 at Huntsville City FC Saturday night after coming back from two goals down and earned the extra point in the penalty shootout. Midfielder Gabriel Wesseh scored his second goal in three games and defender Sal Mazzaferro scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Jayden Hibbert was called into action early. Christian Koffi received the ball on the edge of the box after a corner, and fired a shot that was curling toward the top-left corner, but the 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick stretched to palm it away in the fifth minute.
Huntsville scored the opening goal in the 20th minute. Jordan Knight received the ball at midfield and raced down the left side of the pitch into the box, finishing one-on-one to put the home side up 1-0.
Huntsville doubled its lead in the 42nd minute. Damien Barker John made a move on the right edge of the box before chipping a cross into Alan Carleton, who finished the header at the top of the six-yard box.
Atlanta quickly responded to cut the deficit. Cayman Togashi received the ball from the left just outside the box, and touched it toward Wesseh. The reigning MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of the Matchweek took a touch inside and fired a driven shot with his left foot from 18 yards out that found the bottom-left corner on the stroke of halftime.
Atlanta applied pressure to the Huntsville backline throughout the opening 15 minutes of the second half, and the pressure paid off with a 60th minute equalizer. Moises Tablante received the ball 30 yards from goal and sent a chipped-ball into the box, where he found a wide-open Togashi. The Japanese international touched the ball laterally to Mazzaferro, who finished into the open net.
Sessock nearly had a spectacular go-ahead goal in the 71st minute. Tablante held the ball at the left-corner of the box, and switched the field to Sessock. The wing-back chested the ball out of the air and struck a promising half-volley, but it went past the far-post away from a diving Erik Lauta.
Huntsville's best opportunity of the half came just before stoppage time. Isaiah Jones dribbled down the right side and sent a low-driven cross to Adem Sipic, who's one-time shot went just past the near post and sent the sides into Atlanta's third consecutive penalty shootout. Hibbert saved Koffi's attempt to put Atlanta up early, and 5-Stripes shot five perfect penalties to earn the extra point.
Atlanta United 2 (1-2-5, 10 points) returns to action Sunday, May 18 when it hosts Crown Legacy FC at Fifth Third Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, Soccer Down Here). 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.
Penalty Shootout:
HNT
Christian Koffi - ❌
Real Gill - ✅
Ethan O'Brien - ✅
Zach Barnett - ✅
Blake Bowen - ✅
ATL
Javier Armas - ✅
Sal Mazzaferro - ✅
Rodrigo Neri - ✅
Moises Tablante - ✅
Nyk Sessock - ✅
