Atlanta United 2 returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 10 when the team hits the road for their first trip to Huntsville City FC at Joe Davis Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will be streamed live on Apple TV - MLS Season Pass, while fans can also tune into the Soccer Down Here audio stream.
In ATL UTD 2's last match on Saturday, Sept. 2, the team picked up a 3-1 victory at home against FC Cincinnati 2. The match began with a red card in the third minute that left Cincinnati down to 10 men. Atlanta took advantage and netted two goals in the first half through Karim Tmimi with his 6th goal on the campaign, and Ajani Fortune with his first goal of the season for ATL UTD 2. The match took a turn after FCC answered back in the 57th minute through Benjamin Stitz. Shortly after, Atlanta picked up a red card of their own in the 62nd minute evening both teams to playing 10 men. Nick Firmino helped Atlanta put the game away with his 15th goal of the season in the 81st minute to keep the team's playoff's hopes alive with three games to go.
Atlanta United 2 have everything to play for Sunday night. A regulation win would keep the team's playoff hopes alive while a penalty shootout may keep the team alive depending on results around the league. Only five teams have been eliminated from the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, Inter Miami CF II, LAFC2, FC Cincinnati 2, Galaxy II and North Texas SC.
MATCH INFORMATION
Sunday, September 10 | Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, Alabama | 7:00 p.m. ET
ATL UTD 2 (8-12-5, 30 points) vs. Huntsville City FC (9-10-6, 37 points)
Stream: MLS Season Pass
Link: Watch
NICK FIRMINO
Atlanta's star midfielder Firmino continues to shine in the attacking third as the Brazilian native sits third in the Golden Boot Race with 15 goals on the year, three behind Jack Lynn with 18. Firmino has also taken on the role of playmaker, pacing Atlanta with five assists, and ranking third on the team in key passes (14). Firmino is tied for the league lead in goals + assist with 20.
KOFI TWUMASI
Kofi Twumasi leads the Atlanta backline with 24 appearances this year. He ranks second in the league in interceptions (61), and ranks top ten in tackles (37).
PREVIOUS MEETING
Atlanta United 2 fell to Huntsville City FC 4-2 during their first meeting of the season at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Luke Brennan opened the scoring to give Atlanta the early lead in the seventh minute. After a quick equalizer from Huntsville, Firmino scored a direct free kick in the 42nd minute to restore ATL UTD's lead. However, three goals in the final 20 minutes of the match earned Huntsville the three points on the road.
ATL UTD 2 BY THE NUMBERS
Atlanta enters Monday's match with a 8-12-5-1 (W-L-T-SOW) record overall and is 0-8-4 on the road this season. The team is currently tied in 10th place in the Eastern Conference tied with 30 points, seven back of the final playoff spot. ATL UTD 2 is tied for 15th in the league with 43 goals scored despite being ranked 25th in shots (250). The team has featured 14 different goal scorers this year and played 14 teenagers this season.
HUNTSVILLE CITY FC
Huntsville comes into Sunday's meeting against Atlanta with a 9-10-6 record and 6-3-3 at home this season. The team is in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, tied with Chicago Fire II with 37 points. Huntsville has scored 44 goals this season (tied 11th) and allowed 39 into its own net (T-10th). In its last outing, the team fell 3-0 on the road to New England Revolution II.
