Atlanta United 2 wins 4-1 vs. Sporting KC II

Atlanta United 2 earned three points on the road as it defeated Sporting KC II 4-1 on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park. Phillip Goodrum scored two goals and registered an assist, while Darwin Matheus and Tyler Wolff each netted a goal. Additionally, Robbie Mertz and Amadou Macky Diop also each recorded an assist 

After a quiet half hour from both sides, Atlanta opened the scoring by way of a turnover by Kansas City deep in its defensive third in the 39th minute. Wolff blocked a clearance at the top of the box and the ball found its way to Mertz. The midfielder calmly found an open Matheus near the penalty spot, where he buried the one-time finish.  

Wolff doubled the lead for Atlanta in the 48th minute. On the counterattack, the Pittsburgh native found Goodrum near the arch of the box, where the forward executed a no-look pass into the box to Wolff. The 18-year-old placed his right-footed shot into the far-side netting of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper no chance of saving it. 

Just a few minutes later in the 54th minute, Goodrum netted a goal of his own after being on the field for just nine minutes. Atlanta built out of the back and strung together several passes to create this opportunity. Aiden McFadden drove from the half-way line on the right side until he found Ajani Fortune, who completed a no-look, one-touch pass to play Mertz behind Kansas City’s backline. The midfielder took a shot, but a SKC II defender made the block. The rebound from the block fell to Goodrum and he hammered home Atlanta’s third goal of the match.

The Nashville native netted his second in the 74th minute to make it a 4-0 game. ATL UTD 2 pressed high on the Kansas City backline while it had possession deep in its defensive third. Fortune pressured a SKC II midfielder into making a mistake and Macky Diop gathered the ball on the right flank and fed Goodrum at the near post. The forward beat the goalkeeper near post with a one-time shot. 

SKC II scored its only goal of the match in the 86th minute. Jacob Davis played in a lofted ball from a free kick into the box, where Daniel Barbir headed the ball into the back of the net. Despite allowing a goal, Atlanta held SKC II to only six total shots in the match.

ATL UTD 2 (6-7-7, 25 points) will return to action against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on August 22 at Highmark Stadium (ESPN+, 5:00 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 4, Kansas City 1

Children’s Mercy Field

Kansas City, KS

STATS

Shots: 13-6 Atlanta     

Shots on Target: 7-4 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 4-3 Kansas City

Fouls committed: 15-11 Atlanta

Offside: 4-4

Possession: 56-44 Atlanta 

Passing Accuracy: 86-80 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Darwin Matheus (Robbie Mertz) 39’

ATL – Tyler Wolff (Phillip Goodrum) 47’

ATL – Phillip Goodrum 54’

ATL – Phillip Goodrum (Amadou Macky Diop) 74’

SKC – Daniel Barbir (Jacob Davis) 86’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Abdoulaye Diop (yellow) 36’

SKC – Jake Davis (yellow) 58’

ATL – Amadou Macky Diop (yellow) 76’

ATL – Chris Allan (yellow) 85’ 

SKC – Jahon Rad (yellow) 90+2’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Aiden McFadden, Bryce Washington, Josh Bauer, Caleb Wiley; Abdoulaye Diop (Chris Allan – 73’), Robbie Mertz © (Matías Benítez – 77’), Ajani Fortune; Tyler Wolff (Amodou Macky Diop – 57’), Darwin Matheus (Phillip Goodrum – 45’), Connor Stanley (David Mejia -73’)

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Noah Cobb

SKC II STARTING LINEUP

Kendall McIntosh; Jacob Davis, Graham Smith, Isaiah LeFlore, Daniel Barbir; Osvaldo Cisneros (Michael Lenis – 59’), Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad – 42’), Enoch Mushagalusa, Rojay Smith (Zion Long – 60’), Christian Duke © (Coby Jones – 78’); Jamil Roberts (Jayin Van Deventer – 78’)

Substitutes not used: Remi Prieur, Matthew Constant

OFFICIALS

Jon Freemon, (referee), Matt Trotter, (assistant), Esad Omanovic, (assistant), Drew Klemp, (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• With two goals in Saturday’s match, Phillip Goodrum has four goals so far this season. Additionally, he registered his second assist of the season. 
• Darwin Matheus netted his fourth goal of the season. 
• Tyler Wolff scored his sixth goal of the season, tying Aiden McFadden for most goals on ATL UTD 2.
• Robbie Mertz recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season. 
• Amadou Macky Diop registered his second assist of the season. 
• It was the third game this season that the team has scored four or more goals in a single game.