Atlanta United 2 draw 2-2 at Birmingham Legion FC

Atlanta United 2 played Birmingham Legion FC to a 2-2 draw Saturday night at BBVA Field. Aiden McFadden scored his sixth goal of the season, while Darwin Matheus scored his second goal of the season to help Atlanta secure a point on the road.

After a heavy rain created tough field conditions, Atlanta and Birmingham settled into the match. ATL UTD 2 dominated possession and controlled the tempo for most of the first half. In the 35th minute, Atlanta took a one-goal lead. Amadou Macky Diop quickly threw the ball into a slashing McFadden on the right flank. The forward then drove to the end line and took a heavy touch back to his left foot inside the penalty box where he smashed a shot into the top-left corner of the goal, leaving Matt Van Oekel no chance at saving it. 

Birmingham leveled the game from a penalty kick in the 66th minute. Neco Brett drilled the penalty to the bottom left corner, just out of the reach of Rocco Ríos Novo. Three minutes later, Legion FC found twine again to take the lead. Mikey Lopez crossed the ball to the far side of the box where Junior Flemmings settled it down and bent a shot to the upper corner. 

Atlanta continued to push forward in search of the equalizer. In the 71st minute, Caleb Wiley drove down the left flank and served in a ball to the back post where Robbie Mertz made a diving effort to volley the ball, but it went just wide. 

Atlanta found the equalizer at the death to earn a point. Connor Stanley backheeled a pass to Wiley inside the box where he whipped a shot into the far post. A Birmingham defender denied Wiley, but the rebound fell to Matheus and he buried the one-time opportunity.

ATL UTD 2 (4-6-6, 18 points) will return to action against Birmingham Legion FC, August 4 at BBVA Field (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 2, Birmingham 2

BBVA Field

Birmingham, AL

STATS

Shots: 18-14 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 7-4 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 7-2 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 10-9 Birmingham

Offside: 2-1 Birmingham

Possession: 52-48 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 75-74 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Aiden McFadden (Amadou Macky Diop) 35’

BHM – Neco Brett 66’

BHM – Junior Flemmings (Mikey Lopez) 69’

ATL – Darwin Matheus 90+6’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

BHM – Mikey Lopez (yellow) 52’

ATL – Ajani Fortune (yellow) 56’ 

ATL – Bradley Kamdem Fewo (yellow) 65’

BHM – Jonathan Dean (yellow) 80’ 

ATL – Robbie Mertz (yellow) 86’

BHM – Alex Crognale (yellow) 90+1’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Bryce Washington, Bradley Kamdem Fewo © (Alexander Garuba – 86’), Caleb Wiley, Josh Bauer; Chris Allan (Brendan Lambe – 77’), Aiden McFadden, Ajani Fortune (Abdoulaye Diop – 56’); Robbie Mertz, Amodou Macky Diop (Phillip Goodrum – 56’), Connor Stanley (Darwin Matheus – 77’)

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Noah Cobb

BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC STARTING LINEUP

Matt Van Oekel; Phanuel Kavita ©, Alex Crognale, Thomas Vancaeyezeele; Anderson Asiedu (Eli Crognale – 86’), Mikey Lopez, Jonathan Dean, Ryan James; Prosper Kasim (Junior Flemmings – 63’), Jaden Servania (J.J. Williams – 63’), Neco Brett (Zachary Herivaux – 79’) 

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Ofeimu, Trevor Spangenberg, Jacob Rufe 

OFFICIALS

John Matto, (referee), Austin Holt, (assistant), Zachary McWhorter, (assistant), Kendall McCardell, (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• Aiden McFadden recorded his sixth goal of the season.
• Darwin Matheus netted his second goal of the season. 
• Amadou Macky Diop recorded his first assist of the season. 

ABOUT ATL UTD 2

ATL UTD 2 is owned and operated by AMB Sports & Entertainment and is the United Soccer League (USL) affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. ATL UTD 2 joined USL for its expansion 2018 season and plays its home matches at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.