Atlanta United 2 returns to Fifth Third Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 15 to take on division rivals Huntsville City FC. The match is slated to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com. Fans can also tune in to the Soccer Down Here audio stream.
Scouting Report
Huntsville City FC enters the match sitting in 14th place in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings with 23 points (6-13-5 record). Huntsville has already been eliminated from playoff contention this season. The Alabama side has seen a slight improvement in its recent results, having won three of its last five matches since appointing Inter Miami CF U-17 coach Chris O’Neal. With a well-balanced offense, Atlanta will need to stay sharp and avoid any missteps as the club needs to pick up as many points as it can with the playoff race tightening in the home stretch of the season.
Last Time Out
ATL UTD 2 returns home after rounding out its three-match road trip against New York City FC II, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Icahn Stadium. Atlanta walked away with an extra point after Jayden Hibbert made a save in the 4-2 penalty shootout victory. Luke Brennan got the visitors on the board first in the 18th minute after he collected the ball in the midfield before pushing into the box, laying off a pass for Nick Firmino on the right flank who flicked it back to Brennan at the six-yard box to head home for the opener. NYCFC II equalized five minutes later after Ronald Arevalo tapped the ball over the goal line despite multiple deflections. New York took the lead in the 67th after an unmarked Camil Azzam Ruiz got off a shot from just inside the box towards the back post. For the second match in a row, Atlanta found a goal late into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, Matías Gallardo whipped in a cross that met the head of Efraín Morales who sent it just past the reach of NYC’s keeper.
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Previous Meeting*
Atlanta United 2 holds a 3-1-0 (W-L-D) all-time record against Huntsville City FC. The last matchup between the two sides ended in a 2-1 victory for Atlanta at Joe Davis Stadium on July 27. Forward Rodrigo Neri netted a brace while Matt Edwards and Tyler Wolff each chipped in an assist.
