Five Stripes win after coming from behind
Competition: MLS Next
Scoring Summary:
- ATL UTD U14s (3): O’Neil 14’ 20’, Gordon 64’
- AFC Lightning U14s (2): Unknown 10’ 77’
ATL UTD U14s: Bell, Covington, Amadi, Warnick. Nixon, Backos, Rath, Chea, O’Neil, Washington, O’Sullivan
Venue: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground
Entering it’s eighth year of competition, ATL UTD Academy kicked off the MLS Next season with a win on Saturday against local opponents, AFC Lightning. This season will see an updated approach to gameday rosters, with heavy emphasis on bio-banding players and the addition of tournaments, such as the BOAL International U14 tournament, to create developmentally appropriate challenges for each team, throughout the season.
Atlanta United started slowly while getting used to the physical demands of the game and went behind to an early penalty from AFC Lightning’s #5. A first half double from O’Neil, driving from deep and pressing to get on the scoresheet twice before half time, turned the game in Atlanta United’s favor. The first being a shot from the narrowest of angles before a delightful chip of the goalkeeper after a perfectly weighted Rath through ball.
After half time, Coach Bruno Ramos’ side continued to find ways to play through the press and penetrate AFC Lightning’s back line in the wide areas. Gordon added to the tally in the sixty fourth minute with a tidy finish.
A late reply from AFC Lightning’s #5 led to some late pressure, but Bell and the back line held out to claim the win.
Final Score: ATL UTD U14s 3-2 AFC Lightning U14s
Around the Grounds
ATL UTD U19s suffered their first UPSL defeat of the season at the hands of Atlanta Rovers FC. Goals from James, Perez and an own goal put Rovers three goals to the good before Romero pulled one back for ATL UTD U19s from the spot.
On Sunday, ATL UTD U17s put in a performance against local rivals, Nashville SC, winning 3-2 thanks to goals from Sanchez, Peacock and Gordon. ATL UTD U15s, 14s and 13s fell to Nashville in the remaining games of the day. ATL UTD U16s rounded out the weekend’s fixtures with a 3-2 win against Triangle United. Vilalobos opened the scoring with a low driven finish following a through ball from Flores, dummied by Bryant, taking two defenders attention, allowing Vilalobos in for the finish. Two goals from Triangle United left much to be done in the final twenty minutes, with Bond and Flores popping up with their first goals of the season to secure the 3-2 win.
Atlanta United Academy returns to action next weekend, September 16th.
- ATL UTD U14 @ LSA U14 (MLS NEXT)
- ATL UTD U15 @ LSA U15 (MLS NEXT
- ATL UTD U16 @ LSA U16 (MLS NEXT)
- ATL UTD U17 @ LSA U17 (MLS NEXT)
- ATL UTD U19 @ FC Birmingham (UPSL)
