Atlanta United 2 fell 4-2 to New York Red Bulls II Monday night at MSU Soccer Park. Nick Firmino scored his 14th goal of the season while Alan Carleton recorded his first professional assist on Luke Brennan's fourth goal of the year.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the 18th minute off a rebound put away by Firmino. Karim Tmimi found himself in a pocket of space and blasted a shot that was saved by a diving Will Meyer. The rebound fell to Firmino who quickly put it away from close range.
New York quickly answered back in the 20th minute after Wikelman Carmona received the ball in transition and dropped it off to Ibrahim Casule in the final third. Casule took one dribble before powering the equalizer into the left corner of the net. Moments later, the home side added its second goal off a header powered in by Frank Ssebufu. Carmona curled in a cross into the six-yard-box where Ssebufu rose and put away the goal for the 2-1 lead.
In the 39th minute, Carmona doubled New York's lead after a high press by New York forced Atlanta into an errant pass. Carmona picked up the loose ball in Atlanta's defensive third and dribbled across the field before firing a left footed strike of the right post and into the net leaving no chance for Justin Garces in goal.
New York continued to control possession in the second half to earn a couple of scoring chances in the opening minutes. In the 59th minute, Erik Centeno conceded a penalty to Carmona dribbling towards the end line on the left side of the box. Despite Justin Garces guessing correctly on the penalty save, Kasule's shot found the left side of the net.
In the 78th minute, Alan Carleton recorded his first professional assist after collecting a ball near the left wing and sending in a cross to Luke Brennan at the near post. The homegrown winger got his right boot on the ball and redirected the cross towards the far post and into the net for Atlanta to make it 4-2. Brennan recorded his fourth goal of the season on Carleton's first professional assist.
ATL UTD 2 returns to action Saturday, Sept. 2 when returns to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati 2 (5:00 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: 19-7 New York
Shots on target: 5-4 New York
Corner kicks: 6-4 Atlanta
Fouls Committed: 19-18 Atlanta
xG: 2.29 - 1.49 New York
Possession: 57-43 Atlanta
Passing accuracy: 87-86 Atlanta
Scoring
ATL - Nick Firmino 18'
RBNY - Ibrahim Kasule (Carmona) 20'
RBNY - Frank Ssebufu (Carmona) 28'
RBNY - Wikelman Carmona 39'
RBNY - Ibrahim Kasule 60'
ATL - Luke Brennan (Carleton) 78'
Disciplinary
ATL - Noah Cobb 🟨 53'
ATL - Toni Tiente 🟨 55'
ATL - Ajani Fortune 🟨 71'
RBNY - Jayden Reid 🟨 80'
RBNY - Mohammed Sofo 🟨 90' +1'
Notes
- Nick Firmino scored his 14th goal of the season
- Luke Brennan scored his fourth goal of the season
- Alan Carleton recorded his first professional assist
