ATHENS, Ga. (March 8, 2026) - Atlanta United 2 earned a 2-1 victory over Carolina Core FC in its 2026 home opener at Turner Soccer Complex. Goals from Cayman Togashi and Daniel Chica made the difference as Atlanta secured its first ever MLS NEXT Pro victory in Athens.
The first 30 minutes of the match were cagey, but it was Carolina Core who saw the first two clear-cut chances. In the 18th minute, Core right winger David Diaz received a line-breaking ball into the right side of the box that he was able to run on to and fire at Jayden Hibbert's near post, but the ATL UTD 2 keeper was able to get down and block it out of play. In the 23rd minute, Diaz would get a second opportunity, this time in the center of the box, but once again, his near-post effort was denied well by an outstretched Hibbert.
Atlanta capitalized on the momentum generated by Hibbert quickly. In the 32nd minute, Adyn Torres made a progressive carry from deep in the midfield, splitting the defense and finding Dominik Chong Qui sprinting down the left touchline. Without hesitation, Chong Qui took an early low-driven cross that found the right foot of a diving Cayman Togashi, who slotted past Trevor Jackson to give ATL UTD 2 the early lead.
The 5-Stripes finished strong, generating additional chances for Chong Qui and Togashi, but solid saves from Jackson meant Atlanta was unable to extend its 1-0 advantage before the halftime interval.
Just after the break, Carolina equalized. In the 46th minute, a heavy touch from Matthew Senanou on a backwards pass intended for Hibbert saw the ball inadvertently fired toward the Atlanta goal, and Hibbert was unable to recover in time as the ball nestled in the back of the net for an own goal.
Despite the setback, the 5-Stripes remained resolute with threatening play in the Carolina defensive third. In the 62nd minute, the ball was played to the right side of the box to Chica, who had taken up an advanced position. Chica, with a heavy touch, was able to beat his defender, and with a clear sight of goal, fired a shot to Jackson's far post. Jackson was able to deflect the shot with his body, but it wasn't enough as the ball looped into the back of the net, giving Atlanta its second lead of the night.
The final 35 minutes of the match were intense as both sides looked to establish control. Five yellow cards were distributed in less than 20 minutes of game time, but ATL UTD 2 successfully defended its lead to secure its first victory of the 2026 season.
Atlanta United 2 (1-0-1, 4 points) returns to action Sunday, March 15 when it hosts Huntsville City FC at Turner Soccer Complex (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball App, Soccer Down Here).
