Match Preview: ATL UTD 2 vs. Detroit City FC

Atlanta United 2 hosts USL Championship newcomer Detroit City FC for a Saturday-night match at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

MATCH INFORMATION

Saturday, April 9 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia | 7:30 p.m. ET

ATL UTD 2 (2-3-0, 6 points) vs. Detroit City FC (1-1-2, 5 points)

Stream: ESPN+

Link: Watch

ATL UTD 2 won its second-consecutive match last Saturday, April 2, after a 2-1 victory at Hartford Athletic. Nick Firmino scored the team’s two goals, a pair of headers which opened his account for the club. Erik Centeno also tallied his first professional assist on Firmino’s second goal in the 58th minute, which proved to be the game winner after Hartford cut the deficit to one goal in the 70th minute.

USL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK

Announcing the Team of the Week on Tuesday afternoon, the USL Championship selected two ATL UTD 2 players in the team for the first time this season.

Firmino was impeccable in the air against Hartford, heading in both of his attempts on goals and winning all five of his aerial duels. 

Deployed at right back for this first time this season in Connecticut, Centeno made contributions on both sides of the ball. Along with his first assist, the Pacific University alumnus won two of his three tackles and won possession back a team-leading seven times. 

NOAH COBB

Along with club captain Robbie Mertz, center back Noah Cobb is one of two players to play all 450 minutes for ATL UTD 2 head coach Jack Collison this season.

The newly contracted defender has only been dribbled past once in the 2022 campaign and ranks in the USLC’s top five in clearances, interceptions, and blocked shots. 

The 16-year-old is tied for the league lead in minutes played. 

DETROIT CITY FC IN 2022

Saturday’s first-ever match between ATL UTD 2 and Detroit City FC pits the seventh-place team in the east against the eighth-place team, respectively.

Detroit City has done well since joining the USL Championship, winning its first home match 1-0 on March 19 against Charleston Battery and remaining unbeaten in its two matches since then.

Winger Rhys Williams operates as the leading playmaker with an assist and six key passes on the year; the 26-year-old also leads the league in duels won with 43.