KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 13, 2021) – Atlanta United 2 lost 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City II Wednesday night at Children’s Mercy Park. The loss eliminated ATL UTD 2 from playoff contention.
Atlanta withstood pressure from Kansas City throughout the first half. In just his second start this season, academy goalkeeper Vicente Reyes was called into action early when in the fourth minute he denied a shot by Enoch Mushagalusa from close range. SKC II nearly took the lead when Jacob Davis had a shot from long distance smash off the crossbar and out for a goal kick in the 19th minute.
ATL UTD 2 settled into the match later in the half and produced a scoring chance in the 37th minute. Center back Josh Bauer played a long diagonal ball to Caleb Wiley on the left wing. Wiley one-timed a header to the center of the box where Darwin Matheus headed the cross on frame, but SKC’s John Pulskamp collected the attempt.Â
The second half opened with Atlanta controlling the pace of play and keeping more of the ball. Robbie Mertz pulled a shot just wide of the left post in the 54th minute and two minutes later Amadou Macky Diop was denied by Pulskamp from close range after Abdoulaye Diop played him into the box for a one-on-one.
Reyes made a diving save in the 60th minute to keep the match scoreless. Mushagalusa was played into the box down right side and fired a shot from a tight angle to the near post, but Reyes kept a strong left hand and knocked it away for corner.
After MatÃas BenÃtez had a shot hit the side netting in the 62nd minute, SKC II took the lead in the 69th through Osvaldo Cisneros. Mushagalusa played Cisneros into the box where he was marked tightly by Noah Cobb, but he created just enough space with a move to his right to fire off a low shot towards the back post that snuck by Reyes for the 1-0 lead.
Atlanta’s best chance to equalize came in the 74th minute. Bradley Kamdem Fewo put a free kick on frame that was knocked down by Pulskamp in front of goal. Phillip Goodrum and Matheus both converged on the loose ball to turn in the rebound, but Pulskamp cleared it away at the last moment.
ATL UTD 2 (7-13-11, 30 points) will return to action Saturday, Oct. 16 against Memphis 901 FC at AutoZone Park (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m. ET).
MATCH INFOÂ
Atlanta 0, SKC 1
Children’s Mercy Park
Kansas City, Kansas
STATS
Shots: 19-17 SKC
Shots on Target: 4-3 Atlanta
Corner kicks: 8-3 SKC
Fouls committed: 14-9 SKC
Offside: 3-1 SKC
Possession: 54-46 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 87-87
SCORING SUMMARY
SKC – Osvaldo Cisneros (Enoch Mushagalusa) 69’Â
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
SKC – Jacob Davis (yellow) 44’
ATL – Josh Bauer (yellow) 79’
ATL – Darwin Matheus (yellow) 90+3’
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Vicente Reyes; Josh Bauer, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Aiden McFadden, Noah Cobb (Connor Stanley – 81’); Abdoulaye Diop (Danial Sebhatu – 81’), Robbie Mertz, MatÃas BenÃtez (Ajani Fortune – 66’); Caleb Wiley (David Mejia – 45’), Amadou Macky Diop (Phillip Goodrum – 69’), Darwin Matheus.
Substitutes not used: Bryce Washington, Rocco Rios Novo.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY II STARTING LINEUP
John Pulskamp; Daniel Barbir, Kayden Pierre, Isaiah LeFlore, Graham Smith ©, Jacob Davis, Osvaldo Cisneros (Christian Duke – 87’), Petar Cuic, Grayson Barber (Zion Long – 57’), Mataeo Bunbury (Jamil Roberts – 87’), Enoch Mushagalusa (Michael Lenis – 90+3’).
Substitutes not used:Â Remi Prieur, Alljaz Dzankic, Jayin Van Deventer.
OFFICIALS
Thomas Snyder, (referee), Art Arustamyan, (assistant), Matthew Seem, (assistant), Drew Klemp, (fourth official)
TEAM NOTES
- Vicente Reyes made his second start 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.
