Atlanta United 2 returns to action Friday, June 9 when it travels to face Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will be streamed live on Apple TV - MLS Season Pass.
In ATL UTD 2's last match on Sunday, June 4, the team picked up three points at home in its 5-0 victory versus Inter Miami CF II. Rocket Ritarita and Remi Okunlola made their professional debuts while Atlanta United midfielder Osvaldo Alonso made his 2023 debut for ATL UTD 2, playing 27 minutes as a substitute. It was Alonso’s first competitive action in 14 months after he suffered an ACL injury on April 2, 2022. Nick Firmino and David Mejía each scored a brace and Erik Centeno added his first goal of the season. Atlanta United 2 also tied their in game assist record with four.
MATCH INFORMATION
Friday, June 9 | Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania | 7:00 p.m. ET
ATL UTD 2 (5-4-3, 19 points) vs. Philadelphia Union II (3-6-3, 14 points)
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Link: Watch
NICK FIRMINO
After a hot start to the season, Firmino produced a two-goal performance and added an assist against Miami, earning him MLS NEXT Pro player of the Matchday for Matchday 11. His brace brought his season goal total to seven, one behind MLS NEXT Pro's league leader, while also leading the team in assists with three.
DAVID MEJÍA
The 19-year-old midfielder recorded two goals and an assist in just 33 minutes played against Inter Miami CF II. The Atlanta United Academy product has started one of his seven games played so far in 2023, with his best performance coming at home last match against Miami. It was Mejía's first goals and assist on the year.
ROCKET RITARITA
The 16-year-old Academy player recorded his first professional assist in his professional debut Sunday versus Miami. Ritarita played 16 minutes, with the highlight coming in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half, when the forward dashed down the right sideline and cut back a pass to Mejía for the one-touch goal.
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Atlanta defeated Philadelphia Union II 1-0 in their previous matchup at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on April 30. Karim Tmimi scored the lone goal of the match in the 40th minute to help Atlanta secure three points at home. Atlanta controlled 56% of the possession despite being outshot by Philadelphia 11 to eight. Vicente Reyes had one of his best games in goal during the clean-sheet victory with five saves.
ATL UTD 2 BY THE NUMBERS
Atlanta enters its match on Sunday with a 5-4-3-1 (W-L-T-SOW) record, currently in third place in the Central Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference with 19 points. Atlanta has scored in each of its previous nine matches and poured in five of its 22 total goals last Sunday against Inter Miami CF II. ATL UTD 2 is the top team in MLS NEXT Pro in duel percentage with 53.7%. Atlanta is sixth in the league with 22 goals despite only being ranked 25th in shots taken (123). Atlanta has also suffered the most fouls in the league this year with 190. The team is still searching for its first road win of the season as it heads to Philadelphia this Sunday (0-2-3-1) but holds a 5-2-1 record at home.
PHILADELPHIA UNION II
Philadelphia Union II heads into Sunday's match at home with a 3-6-3 record, currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, one spot behind Atlanta, and fifth place in the Northeast Division with 14 points. Philadelphia is coming off a 2-1 loss on the road to FC Cincinnati 2 on Sunday, June 4, but the team won its last home game 3-2 versus Columbus Crew 2. Philadelphia holds a 1-3-1 when playing at home this season. The club has scored 21 goals this year and conceded 28.
