MATTHEWS, N.C. (May 19, 2025) - Atlanta United 2 traveled to Crown Legacy FC Monday night and equalized late to draw 2-2, with Crown Legacy earning the extra point in the penalty shootout. Cayman Togashi scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, while Atlanta extended its unbeaten streak to four games.
The 5-Stripes started fast with a goal in the 10th minute. Javier Armas played a short cross from the left and the ball bounced in front of Togashi inside the box. With his back to goal, the Japanese forward cheekily flicked the ball over the head of his defender and the goalkeeper and it bounced into the back of the net to take the early lead.
In the 35th minute, Crown Legacy evened the score. Aron John won the ball from the midfield 30 yards from goal and took it himself around Jayden Hibbert before finishing. Six minutes later, Coulibaly played a deep ball across the field to Dylan Sing, who finished the header in the bottom-left corner but the flag was raised just before halftime.
Both sides displayed strong defense in the second half, but Crown Legacy took the lead off a set piece. John stood over the ball from the left side, just outside the box and lifted a curling ball toward the penalty spot, where Subotic connected on the header into the back of the net in the 67th minute.
Substitute Gabriel Wesseh dribbled inside from the right and tapped it toward an overlapping Nyk Sessock. The wingback connected with Ryan Carmichael off a low cross, but the Northern Irishman had his shot saved by George Marks in the 81st minute. Three minutes later, Sessock delivered a lofted cross from the right to the back post. Rodrigo Neri leapt to meet the header, but the ball fell wide right of the goal.
In the 88th minute, Wesseh applied heavy pressure to Assane Ouedraogo and won the ball before driving toward goal. The defender tripped the 16-year old from behind and Atlanta earned a penalty. Armas stepped up, and his attempt to the right was saved but he fired in the rebound to even the score.
Atlanta could have taken the lead late, but Marks saved a shot from Cooper Sanchez and two from Neri in the 93rd minute to send Atlanta to its fourth consecutive shootout. Wesseh's attempt was saved while Crown Legacy went five-for-five to take the extra point.
Atlanta United 2 (1-2-6, 11 points) returns to action Friday, May 23 when it hosts Orlando City B at Fifth Third Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, Soccer Down Here). 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.
Penalty Shootout:
ATL
Javier Armas - ✅
Gabriel Wesseh - ❌
Sal Mazzaferro - ✅
Rodrigo Neri - ✅
CLFC
Aron John - ✅
Brian Romero - ✅
Jamie Smith - ✅
Adrian Mendoza - ✅
Dylan Sing - ✅
