Atlanta United 2 defeated Bethlehem Steel FC 5-2 Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Five players scored for Atlanta while the club ran its unbeaten streak to seven consecutive matches.
Atlanta assembled a dominant first half where it controlled more than 70 percent possession and outshot Bethlehem 9-2. ATL UTD 2 produced several chances to take the lead early and finally broke through in the 38th minute through George Campbell. Mikey Ambrose delivered an in-swinging corner kick into the center of the box where Campbell headed the ball off the left post and into the net for his second career goal.
Ambrose doubled the lead in the 43rd minute after Campbell drew a foul on the edge of the 18-yard box. Ambrose took the ensuing free kick and curled a left-footed shot into the upper-left corner. It was his third career goal, all of which have come from direct free kicks.
Bethlehem pulled a goal back shortly into the second half when Faris Pemi Moumbagna scored a penalty in the 48th minute.
However, ATL UTD 2 quickly restored it’s two-goal lead in the 57th minute when Patrick Okonkwo’s scored his second goal of the season. George Bello played a pass to Kevin Barajas at the halfway line where the midfielder turned without taking a touch, dribbled toward goal and lifted a pass over the Steel FC defense for Okonkwo. The Homegrown forward waited for the ball to fall before tucking it into the bottom right corner.
Bello extended Atlanta’s lead four minutes later with his first goal of the season. Guillermo Benitez drew a foul in the box and Bello took the ensuing penalty kick, shooting it to the left side while sending Bethlehem goalkeeper Todd Morton the other way.
Steel FC added a second goal in the 77th minute when substitute Selmir Miscic scored from close range after a cross from Axel Picazo, but Bienvenue Kanakimana added a fifth for Atlanta when he converted a penalty in the 87th minute for his team-leading seventh goal of the year.
ATL UTD 2 (9-16-8, 35 points) returns to action Saturday, Oct. 19 at Nashville SC at 8:00 p.m. EST at First Tennessee Park. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
