Atlanta United 2 picked up three points in a 3-1 victory over Crown Legacy FC Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Noah Cobb earned his first professional goal while Christopher Gloster added his first assist of the season in his first start. Nelson Orji also scored his first goal of the year while Nick Firmino added his 13th goal.
The match began with early scoring chances for both sides. In the second minute, Iuri Tavares threaded a pass into the box for Gurman Sangha. The forward took a few dribbles before attempting to fire a shot towards the far post but the first team keeper, Clement Diop, was there for his first save of the night. Seconds later, Karim Tmimi found himself in a pocket of space above the penalty arc. The french striker took one touch before blasting a shot from long distance into the hands of Isaac Walker.
Crown Legacy found the breakthrough in the 19th minute. Tavares gave CLT the 1-0 lead after Sangha intercepted a pass in the final third and fired a shot that rebounded off the left post directly to Tavares in front of net for the easy tap in.
Atlanta turned up the pressure after conceding the first goal. In the 30th minute, Cobb headed in the equalizer off a corner curled in towards the near post by Gloster for the Cobb's first professional goal.
Orji immediately provided a spark after coming on as a halftime substitute to give Atlanta its first lead of the match. In the 47th minute, Toni Tiente sent in a cross for Firmino who headed the ball down and to Orji for the one-time shot into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. It was Firmino's fifth assist of the year.
In the 55th, Firmino added to Atlanta's lead on its third set piece goal off a corner kick of the night. Tiente found Firmino near the center of the box for his 13th goal of the season and Tiente's second assist of the year.
ATL UTD 2 returns to action Sunday, August 13 when it travels to Gillette Stadium New England Revolution II (7:00 p.m. ET, Apple TV - MLS Season Pass). Some ATL UTD 2 matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app while the remainder of matches are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Match Summary
Stats
Shots: 16-15 Crown
Shots on target: 10-7 Crown
Corner kicks: 5-5
Fouls Committed: 15-8 Atlanta
xG: 1.8 - 1.69 Crown
Possession: 53-47 Crown
Passing accuracy: 87-86 Crown
Scoring
CLT - Iuri Tavares 19'
ATL - Noah Cobb (Gloster) 30'
ATL - Nelson Orji (Firmino) 47'
ATL - Nick Firmino (Tiente) 55'
Disciplinary
ATL - Adyn Torres 🟨 5'
ATL - Nelson Orji 🟨 62'
CLT - Erik Pena Boardman 🟨 70'
CLT - João Guilherme 🟨 82'
ATL - Jonantan Villal 🟨 85'
Notes
- Christopher Gloster recorded first assist of the season in first career start for ATL UTD 2.
- Noah Cobb scored his first professional goal.
- Nelson Orji scored his first goal of the season.
- Nick Firmino adds scores 13th goal of the season and adds fifth assist.
- Toni Tiente adds second assist of the season.
- Fuad Adeniyi returned from a meniscus injury that kept him out six weeks.
- ATL UTD 2 scored three goals off set piece corners.
