Atlanta United 2 fell 3-1 at The Miami FC to close out the 2020 USL Championship season. Jackson Conway scored his sixth goal of the season, but Miami scored three unanswered goals to pick up the victory.
Atlanta struck first in the 13th minute on a beautiful effort. Patrick Nielsen played a long ball over the top into space from his own half. Conway raced onto the ball and struck it on the bounce into the top corner past Miami’s keeper for the 1-0 lead. ATL UTD 2 nearly doubled the lead in the 17th minute, but Amir Bashti’s volley was saved by the on-rushing Mark Pais in Miami’s goal.
The lead lasted until the 30th minute, when Romario Williams equalized from the penalty spot. Ben Lundgaard was judged to have brought down Prince Saydee in the box, and Williams converted the penalty into the top left corner. The teams stayed locked at 1-1 into halftime.
Miami took the lead early in the second half after Saydee scored on a shot to the top right corner in the 50th minute. Atlanta nearly found an equalizer in the 56th minute off a set piece. Jack Gurr sent a free kick to the far post where an unmarked Bashti headed the ball towards goal, but Pais made another diving stop to keep the ball out.
In the 73rd minute, Miami looked to extend the lead, but Lundgaard made a spectacular kick save to deny Mohamed Thiaw’s penalty kick after Nielsen was whistled for a foul in the box. As Atlanta pushed for the game-tying goal, Miami struck on the counter in stoppage time through Sebastian Velasquez to make the final score 3-1 in favor of the hosts.
ATL UTD 2 (3-10-3, 12 points) finishes the 2020 USL Championship season in fourth place in Group H.
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 1, Miami 3
Riccardo Silva Stadium
Miami, Florida
STATS
Shots: 9-7 Miami
Shots on Target: 4-3 Miami
Offside: 2-0 Atlanta
Possession: 53-47 Miami
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Jackson Conway 13’ (Patrick Nielsen) [HIGHLIGHT]
MIA – Romario Williams 30’ (penalty kick)
MIA – Prince Saydee 50’ (Tomas Granitto)
MIA – Sebastian Velasquez 90+4’ (Mohamed Thiaw)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Matthew Edwards 11’ (yellow)
MIA – Vincent Bezecourt 22’ (yellow)
ATL – Will Reilly 65’ (yellow)
ATL – Amir Bashti 70’ (yellow)
MIA – Tomas Granitto 74’ (yellow)
MIA – Sebastian Velasquez 90’ (yellow)
MIA – Miguel Gonzalez 90+1’ (yellow)
ATL – Brendan Lambe 90+3’ (yellow)
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Ben Lundgaard; Matthew Edwards (Daniel Steedman – HT), Modou Jadama ©, Patrick Nielsen, Jack Gurr; Coleman Gannon (Brendan Lambe – 88’), Will Reilly, Ajani Fortune (Baboucarr Njie – 64’); Phillip Goodrum (David Mejia – 79’), Jackson Conway, Amir Bashti (Lamin Jawneh – 79’).
Substitutes not used: Vicente Reyes, Efrain Morales.
THE MIAMI FC STARTING LINEUP
Mark Paisk ©; Hassan Ndam (Jalen Markey – HT), Bah Othello (Janos Loebe – 63’), Marco Franco (Lloyd Sam – 84’), Lance Rozeboom; Vincent Bezecourt, Harrison Heath, Tomas Granitto; Prince Saydee (Miguel Gonzalez – 70’), Romario Williams (Mohamed Thiaw. – 63’), Sebastian Velasquez.
Substitutes not used: Bryant Gammiero, Brian James.
OFFICIALS
Alex Billeter (referee), Juan Pablo Casas (assistant), Diego Lucio (assistant), Natalie Simon (fourth).
TEAM NOTES
- Jackson Conway scored his sixth goal of the season which is tied for the team lead
- Patrick Nielsen recorded his first professional assist
- Ben Lundgaard saved his second penalty kick of the year
