Have a day, Caleb Wiley. 👏
On Saturday in Atlanta United's match in Charlotte, the 18-year-old scored a brace and added an assist in the first half, powering the visitors to a 3-0 victory on the road. It was Wiley's first brace of his career.
His three goal contributions in the first half against Charlotte FC also made league history. Per MLS, Wiley becomes just the fourth-youngest player (18 years, 79 days) in MLS history to produce at least three goal contributions in one half of a match.
On top of scoring the first brace of his career, he also helped his teammate Luiz Araújo score his first goal of the season. Just seven minutes after his first goal of the day, Wiley found the Brazilian on the opposite side of the pitch in the team's attacking third. Araújo cut the ball back to his left foot and finished a low strike for Atlanta's second goal of the match.
Wiley and Araújo's goals in the opening 12 minutes was the fastest Atlanta has ever scored two goals in the club's MLS history, according to Opta. It was the first time in Wiley's career that he scored a goal and had an assist in the same match.
Minutes before the halftime break, Wiley found the back of the net for his second goal and third goal contribution of the day. Doing so, he became the third player in Atlanta United history to have two goals and an assist in the same match, joining Miguel Almiron and Yamil Asad.
The performance comes during a strong run for Atlanta United in the start of 2023. In the first three matches of the MLS season, Atlanta has earned seven out of nine possible points and remain unbeaten on the season. Next, they'll host Portland Timbers next Saturday in a rematch of the 2018 MLS Cup.
