Atlanta United 2 lost 2-0 in its season opener against Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium. Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden, Chris Allan, Darwin Matheus and Alex Garuba all made their ATL UTD 2 debuts.
Academy goalkeeper Vicente Reyes was called on early in the match as he made all four of his saves in the first half. After a comfortable save in the third minute, the 17-year-old Reyes was forced into action again when Bauer nearly turned the ball in for an own goal. Louisville City took a free kick from the left side of the 18-yard-box that was floated to the back post. It deflected off Bauer and forced Reyes into a diving save to his right before being cleared away.
Coleman Gannon nearly put Atlanta ahead when he led a breakaway in the 29th minute. Gannon drove the ball down the middle of the field before peeling off towards the left where he was able to put a shot on goal, but Chris Hubbard reacted quickly and made a kick save.
Louisville took the lead in the 69th minute. Oscar Jimenez delivered a corner kick from the left side where DelPiccolo was able to head the ball in from close range.
Pushing for an equalizer, ATL UTD 2 appeared to have drawn a penalty in the 82nd minute. Phillip Goodrum played McFadden down the right side and into box where Cameron Lancaster took McFadden down from behind, but there was no call on the play. Five minutes later, Louisville extended its lead again through DelPiccolo. The Louisville captain netted his second of the night when he tapped in a cross from inside the six-yard box.
ATL UTD 2 returns to action Saturday, May 1 against OKC Energy at Taft Stadium (ESPN+, 8:30 p.m. ET).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 0, Louisville 2
Lynn Family Stadium
Louisville, Kentucky
STATS
Shots: 14-3 Louisville
Shots on Target: 5-1 Louisville
Corner kicks: 5-1 Louisville
Fouls committed: 17-14 Atlanta
Offside: 5-2 Atlanta
Possession: 60-40 Louisville
Passing Accuracy: 81-73 Louisville
SCORING SUMMARY
LOU – Paolo DelPiccolo (Oscar Jimenez) 69’
LOU – Paolo DelPiccolo (George Davis IV) 87’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
LOU – Alexis Souahy (yellow) 25’
ATL – Bradley Kamdem (yellow) 32’
LOU – Sean Totsch (yellow) 37’
LOU – Oscar Jimenez (yellow) 40’
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Vicente Reyes; Caleb Wiley, Bradley Kamdem, Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden; Brendan Lambe, Chris Allan (Efrain Morales – 81’), Tyler Wolff (Phillip Goodrum – 70’); Darwin Matheus (Alex Garuba – 78’), Coleman Gannon, Jackson Conway.
Substitutes not used: Abdoulaye Diop, Amadou Macky Diop.
LOUISVILLE CITY FC STARTING LINEUP
Chris Hubbard; Jonathan Gomez, Alexis Souahy, Sean Totsch, Oscar Jimenez; Akil Watts (James McLaughlin – 56’), Paolo DelPiccolo ©, Corben Bone, Napo Matsoso (Tyler Gibson – 70’), Cameron Lancaster (George Davis IV – 85’), Niall McCabe (Antoine Hoppenot – 56’).
Substitutes not used: Elijah Wynder, Simon Lefebvre, Pat McMahon.
OFFICIALS
Lukasz Szpala (referee), Walt Heatherly, (assistant), Chris Schurfranz, (assistant), Nabil Bensalah (fourth).
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.
