Atlanta United 2 loses 4-0 vs. Birmingham Legion FC

KENNESAW, Ga. (Sept. 22, 2021) – Atlanta United 2 fell 4-0 against Birmingham Legion FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium Wednesday night. Nigel Prince made his professional debut in the match. 

Atlanta dominated possession from the first whistle. However, Birmingham found the back of the net first in the 17th minute. Prosper Kasim found Thomas Vancaeyezeele near the arch of the penalty box, where the midfielder fired a shot that was deflected as it traveled into the goal.

In the 32nd minute, Darwin Matheus carved a few Birmingham midfielders then found Ajani Fortune near the top of the penalty area. Fortune drove at the defender and cutback to his left foot to fire off a shot, but his aim was just wide. 

Matheus put a shot on frame in the 53rd minute. The Venezuelan received the ball in the right flank and drove across the field to the left side of the penalty box. He fired a shot back across the frame of the goal, but the goalkeeper parried it away. 

Legion FC extended its lead in the 78th minute. Eli Crognale found Neco Brett on a counterattack, who went one-on-one with Alec Kann and Brett won the battle by way of a chip. A few minutes later in the 83rd minute, Brett found Kasim on another transition and Kasim placed his shot into the upper- left corner of the goal. Then, Brett went on to record a brace in stoppage time. The forward received the ball in space at the top of the eighteen, forcing Kann to come off his line, and he chipped it into the goal. 

ATL UTD 2 (7-11-8, 29 points) will return to action against Rio Grande Valley FC at 8:30 on Sept. 25 at H-E-B Park (ESPN+, 8:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 0, Birmingham 4

Fifth Third Bank Stadium 

Kennesaw, GA

STATS

Shots: 18-12 Birmingham

Shots on Target: 8-2 Birmingham

Corner kicks: 5-2 Birmingham

Fouls committed: 15-8 Atlanta

Offside: 5-3 Birmingham

Possession: 55-45 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 82-75 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

BHM – Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Prosper Kasim) 17’

BHM – Neco Brett (Eli Crognale) 78’

BHM – Prosper Kasim (Neco Brett) 82’

BHM – Neco Brett 90+3’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Jackson Conway (yellow) 47’ 

ATL – Darwin Matheus (yellow) 56’

BHM – Jaden Servania (yellow) 71’

ATL – Bradley Kamdem Fewo (yellow) 88’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Alec Kann; Aiden McFadden, Josh Bauer (Matías Benítez – 81’), Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Bryce Washington (Nigel Prince – 81’); Robbie Mertz, Abdoulaye Diop (David Mejia – 61’), Ajani Fortune; Erik López, Darwin Matheus, Jackson Conway (Amadou Macky Diop – 61’)

Substitutes not used: Rocco Ríos Novo, Connor Stanley, Brendan Lambe

BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC STARTING LINEUP

Trevor Spangenberg; Jonathan Dean, Phanuel Kavita ©, Mikey Lopez, Alex Crognale; Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Ryan James – 83’), J.J. Williams (Jaden Servania – 66’), Bruno Lapa (Eli Crognale – 66’), Zachary Herivaux (Anderson Asiedu – 49’), Prosper Kasim (Jacob Rufe – 83’); Neco Brett

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Ofeimu, Matt Van Oekel

OFFICIALS

Luis Arroyo, (referee), Zach McWhorter, (assistant), Kyle Johnston, (assistant), Sarah Gaddes, (fourth official)

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.