Atlanta United 2 came up short in a 2-0 loss to Indy Eleven Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. A week after he posted his first-career clean sheet, goalkeeper Paul Christensen set a new career-high with five saves.
“Another game where we did most things well, and a few things not well enough,” said ATL UTD 2 head coach Scott Donnelly. “We had a lot of the ball, circulated it well and created a number of good final third entries. Once there, we have to be more decisive. Likewise, on the defensive side of the ball, one or two key mistakes against a veteran team, and you have a bit of a hill to climb. But, there is great resiliency and determination from these young players to get it right – and we are in that process”
Following a slow first half hour, Indy Eleven found the breakthrough after an ATL UTD 2 giveaway in its defensive third. In the 30th minute, Matthew Watson picked off a pass, dribbled into the box and took a touch past Christensen to pass the ball into an empty net. Atlanta nearly leveled the score during first-half stoppage time after Laurent Kissiedou was fouled outside of the box on the left side. Homegrown Chris Goslin struck the ensuing free kick towards goal, but pulled his shot just past the left post for a goal kick.
Indy doubled its lead in the 55th minute when Carlyle Mitchell scored a header at the back post off a corner kick taken by Ayoze Garcia. Despite the result, ATL UTD 2 out-possessed Indy 58-42, marking the third-consecutive match Atlanta has controlled the ball.
ATL UTD 2 (2-7-4, 10 points) returns to action Wednesday, June 13 against Charlotte Independence at 7:00 p.m. EST at Coolray Field. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
LINE SCORE
Atlanta 0, Indy 2
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
STATS
Shots: 7-16 Indy
Shots on Target: 1-7 Indy
Corner kicks: 3-7 Indy
Fouls committed: 15-12 Atlanta
Saves: 5-1 Atlanta
Offside: 0-5 Indy
Possession: 58-42 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 78-68 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
IND – Matthew Watson 30’
IND – Carlyle Mitchell (Ayoze Garcia) 55’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
IND – Juan Guerra (yellow) 78’
ATLANTA UNITED 2 STARTING LINEUP
Paul Christensen; Jose Hernandez, AJ Cochran, Andrew Kendall-Moullin, Jack Metcalf © (Shawn Nicklaw – 38’); Oliver Shannon, Chris Goslin (Devon Sandoval – 61’); Jose Carranza, Laurent Kissiedou, Jon Gallagher; Yosef Samuel (Kevin Barajas – 80’).
Substitutes not used: Nico Caraux, Dylan Gaither, Charlie Asensio.
INDY ELEVEN STARTING LINEUP
Owain Fon Williams; Kevin Venegas, Ayoze Garcia, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette; Seth Moses (Benjamin Speas – 90+2’), Nico Matern, Juan Guerra (Zach Steinberger – 83’), Matthew Watson ©; Soony Saad, Justin Braun (Eugene Starikov – 73’).
Substitutes not used: Jordan Farr, Bradford Rusin, Nathan Lewis, Brad Ring.
ATTENDANCE
10,034
OFFICIALS
Michael Radchuk (referee), Adrienne McDonald (assistant), Jeffrey Swartzel (assistant), Ramazan Altun (fourth).
TEAM NOTES
- Paul Christensen made a career-high five saves
