Atlanta United 2 falls 1-0 at Louisville City FC in 2022 opener

Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Louisville City FC in the 2022 USL Championship season opener. Erik Centeno and Grant Howard made their professional debuts, while Nicolas Firmino earned his club debut. 

The opening 15 minutes were an even contest with both sides producing some half chances. In the 22nd minute, Jackson Conway was played in behind Louisville’s backline by a long ball from Academy defender Mathieu Brick. Conway took one touch and struck a powerful volley shot down the middle of the goal where Louisville’s Kyle Morton was able to make the save. 

A couple of minutes later, Vicente Reyes made an outstanding diving save from a Paolo Del Piccolo header inside the box to keep the match scoreless. In the 38th minute, Reyes was called upon once again. Louisville got down the right side and squared the ball to an open Corben Bone. The midfielder one-timed a shot towards the far corner but Reyes made a spectacular diving save. On the ensuing corner kick, Aiden McFadden cleared a shot off the line to preserve the 0-0 score at halftime.

The next big chance of the match came in the 66th minute for Atlanta. Off a corner kick, Conway headed a ball off the right post and McFadden pounced on the loose ball to put it into the empty net. But the referee deemed McFadden was offside on the initial header and ruled the goal out. In the 70th minute, Louisville found the breakthrough through Wilson Harris. The striker got the ball at the top of the box and fired a left footed strike toward the bottom right corner. Reyes got a touch on the strike but couldn’t keep it out. 

Atlanta pushed for the equalizer throughout the final 20 minutes but couldn’t find one. Reyes made a couple more saves down the stretch to keep the final score at 1-0 in favor of Louisville. 

ATL UTD 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) will return to action for its 2022 home opener on Wednesday, Mar. 16 against New York Red Bulls II at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 0, Louisville 1

Lynn Family Stadium

Louisville, Kentucky

STATS

Shots: 23-6 Louisville

Shots on Target: 6-1 Louisville

Corner kicks: 6-2 Louisville

Fouls committed: 17-10 Louisville

Offside: 5-3 Atlanta

Possession: 50-50

Passing Accuracy: 74-72 Atlanta         

SCORING SUMMARY

LOU – Wilson Harris (Enoch Mushagalusa) 70’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

LOU – Wilson Harris (yellow) 57’

LOU – Josh Wynder (yellow) 64’

ATL – Mathieu Brick (yellow) 69’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Vicente Reyes; Mikey Ambrose, Aiden McFadden, Noah Cobb, Mathieu Brick (Grant Howard – 87’); Robbie Mertz ©, Nicolas Firmino (Brendan Lambe – 71’), Efrain Morales; Erik Centeno (Jonantan Villal – 62’), Jackson Conway (Luke Brennan – 71’), David Mejia

Substitutes not used: Justin Garces, Ajani Fortune, Darwin Matheus.

LOUISVILLE CITY FC STARTING LINEUP

Kyle Morton; Manny Perez, Wes Charpie (Sean Totsch – 82’), Josh Wynder, Amadou Dia; Tyler Gibson, Corben Bone, Paolo Del Piccolo © (Enouch Mushagalusa – 59’), Brian Ownby (Ray Serrano – 59’); Jorge Gonzalez (Napo Matsoso – 90’), Wilson Harris.

Substitutes not used: Danny Faundez, Ian Soler, Carlos Moguel Jr.

OFFICIALS

Melvin Rivas (referee), Matthew Rodman (assistant), Chris Schurfranz (assistant), Seun Yinka-Kehinde (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick Erik Centeno made his professional and club debut 
• Academy defender Mathieu Brick made his first start for ATL UTD 2, his second overall appearance for the club
• Academy defender Grant Howard made his professional debut
• Midfielder Nicolas Firmino made his club debut