CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Aug. 8, 2026) - Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Chattanooga FC on Saturday at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. Atlanta controlled the majority of the possession in the match and out-shot its opponent 14 to six, but it could not find a decisive goal in the defeat.
In the seventh minute, Chattanooga grabbed the opener. Midfielder Alex McGrath, starting a counterattack from his own half, played a pass out to fellow midfielder Tate Robertson on the right wing. With just two touches to control it, Robertson then played a through ball up to center forward Alexander Krehl, who was running level with the last defender. With Krehl inside the box on the right side, James Donaldson came out of his area to apply pressure, but Krehl was able to finish the ball past him at the near post, giving Chattanooga the early advantage.
Atlanta settled into the game after the opening goal, outshooting Chattanooga four to two and equaling its opponent with just one shot on target across the final 38 minutes. However, Atlanta was unable to create a big goalscoring opportunity as it entered the half trailing 1-0.
In the 56th minute, Atlanta nearly found the equalizer. Chattanooga midfielder Isaiah Jones turned the ball over at the midfield stripe to Ignacio Suarez-Couri, who placed a forward pass at the feet of Enzo Dovlo. Left completely free on the right side, Dovlo sprinted into the box from the right side, where he was faced with two defenders and Eldin Jakupovic, whom was out of his area. In attempt to catch everyone out, Dovlo fired a curling shot to the far post, which Jakupovic failed to deflect, however the shot spun just inches wide of the goal and out of play.
Jakupovic was forced to make a big save in the 78th minute. Standing over the ball on a free kick just left of center at the top of the box, Cameron Dunbar wrapped a shot with his weaker right foot away from the wall and toward the far post. Caught off guard and having to adjust his balance quickly, Jakupovic fell to his left and blocked the shot before it could nestle in the bottom right corner, keeping Atlanta out.
The 78th minute free kick would end up as Atlanta’s last shot on target in the match as Chattanooga defended its slim advantage and secured all three points.
Atlanta United 2 (10-7-4, 34 points) returns to action Friday, Aug. 14, when it returns home to face RBNY II (4 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball App, Soccer Down Here).
