Atlanta United 2 lost 4-1 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Despite the result, Luiz Fernando scored his first goal of the season while Dion Pereira recorded his first assist.
Fernando opened his account with ATL UTD 2 in the 34th minute. Fresh off his Major League Soccer debut, Pereira played Fernando behind the Rowdies’ backline where the Brazilian scored with a left footed shot to the lower left corner.
Tampa Bay scored in the 45th minute when Andrew Tinari played Leo Fernandes into the box on the left side where the winger finished at the near post to equalize.
Atlanta came out of the half energized and nearly took the lead in the 52nd minute through Pereira who ripped a left-footed shot from roughly 23 yards out, but John McCarthy made a diving save to keep it out of the top-right corner.
ATL UTD 2 didn’t allow Tampa Bay to attempt a shot in the second half until the 67th minute, but it resulted in a George Campbell own goal. Sebastian Guenzatti sent a low cross through the six-yard box where Tinari left it for David Najem at the back post. Najem’s shot hit the right post, ricocheted off Campbell and bounced into the net.
Tampa added a pair of goals late. Juan Tejada scored in the 87th minute at the near post after a cross from left side from Fernandes. Brandon Allen scored a header in the first minute of stoppage time, again off a Fernandes cross from the left side.
ATL UTD 2 (3-3-1, 10 points) returns to action Sunday, April 28 against Ottawa Fury FC at 2:00 p.m. EST at TD Place Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
