HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (May 16, 2026) - Atlanta United 2 earned a 6-2 win against Huntsville City FC on Saturday at Wicks Family Field in Huntsville. Arif Kovac scored a team-record five goals in the comeback victory, extending Atlanta's away match winning streak to four in the process.
In the 18th minute, Huntsville grabbed the first goal from a corner. Midfielder Misei Yoshizawa, standing by the right corner flag, whipped a ball into the Atlanta box with his left foot. The ball was allowed to bounce twice in front of goal before center back Leo Christiano ran up to it and struck it on the half volley, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to put Huntsville up 1-0.
In the 41st minute, Maximus Ekk saw a second yellow card just 10 minutes after accruing his first. As Huntsville goalkeeper Xavier Valdez launched a ball into the Atlanta half from a free kick, Ilan Ettinger and Ekk both jumped in an attempt to win possession. While in the air, Ekk placed a challenge on Ettinger, causing him to land awkwardly and prompting the referee to brandish the second yellow, reducing Huntsville to 10 men.
However, an Atlanta miscommunication on defense saw Huntsville grab a second goal just before the half. Mohamed Cisset, shielding the ball from the pressing Huntsville right back Julian Gaines, made a quick pass to James Donaldson in close proximity. Donaldson, left with little time to make a decision with Gaines closing him down, took a loose touch and conceded possession to Gaines, who was then able to walk the ball into the net and extend the Huntsville lead.
With Huntsville relegated to 10 men on the pitch and still an entire half to play, Atlanta began to assert dominance in the Huntsville defensive third. In the 53rd minute, Kovac pulled one back. Ettinger, set up in the half space on the right side, whipped a bending cross to Kovac, who was standing in front of the penalty spot. Kovac, holding off a defender behind him, touched the cross down with his chest before striking it with his right foot on the volley and halving the Atlanta deficit.
Kovac tied the match in the 66th minute. Enzo Dovlo, receiving a pass on the right wing, took on his defender, dribbled to just outside of the box and floated in a curled cross to the back post. Kovac, anticipating the cross, arrived at the back post, using his height to beat his marker and head the ball into the back of the net.
In the 75th minute, Atlanta completed the comeback. Cameron Dunbar, producing a near-identical play to Dovlo from the left side, dribbled inside and launched a cross toward Kovac in the middle. Once again, Kovac anticipated the flight of the ball and created space from his defender, using his head to drive the ball into the ground and past the goalkeeper to give Atlanta its first lead of the night.
In the 80th minute, Huntsville lost another player to yellow card accumulation. Midfielder Moisés Véliz Rodriguez, in a duel to win the ball from Ettinger, left a challenge late, catching Ettinger’s ankle and knocking him over. The referee, who was right behind the play, quickly ran up and distributed a second yellow card to Véliz, who acquired two yellow cards in a span of less than 45 seconds, reducing Huntsville to nine men.
With an 11 versus nine mismatch, Atlanta took advantage. In the 93rd minute, Liam Butts scored Atlanta’s fourth goal on an assist from Kovac. In the 95th minute, Kovac scored his fourth goal, Atlanta’s fifth, by slotting home a shot that ricocheted off the goalkeeper. In the 98th minute, Kovac scored his record-setting fifth goal on Andrew Jardines’ first professional assist, securing a 6-2 victory and extending Atlanta’s away match winning streak.
Atlanta United 2 (6-3-1, 19 points) returns to action Saturday, May 23, when it travels to Philadelphia to face Philadelphia Union II at Kinetic Field (3 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball App, Soccer Down Here).
