Atlanta United 2 falls 6-0 to Birmingham Legion FC

Atlanta United 2 fell to Birmingham Legion FC 6-0 in Protective Stadium on Saturday evening.   

Birmingham opened the scoring early, as Enzo Martinez tapped in a Juan Agudelo pass from the byline into an open net in the second minute.

Legion FC were awarded a penalty after Marlon was brought down in the box. Prosper Kasim converted on his second attempt after his first was ruled off, finding the inside of the side netting of Justin Garces’ net in the 37th minute. 

Kasim turned creator for Birmingham’s third goal, threading through Marlon to tuck in a strike in the 39th minute.

Agudelo got on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute, heading in a Jonny Dean cross from the right side.

Atlanta United Academy defender Andrew De Gannes came on at half time, making his professional debut and becoming the sixth Academy product to make his ATL UTD 2 debut this season.

Martinez recorded his second goal of the night after Agudelo found him in open space in front of the Atlanta net. The Uruguayan composed himself and eased the ball past Garces in the 74th minute.

Birmingham scored its sixth and final goal through Sadik Balarabe. Martinez found the Englishman between two defenders and Balarabe took one touch and got the shot out of his feet quickly for his first goal for Legion FC.

ATL UTD 2 (4-17-4, 16 points) travels to MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field in Montclair, New Jersey to take on New York Red Bulls II on Tuesday, August 9 (7 p.m., ESPN+). 

MATCH INFO

Birmingham 6, Atlanta 0

Protective Stadium

Birmingham, Alabama

STATS

Shots: 29-7 Birmingham

Shots on Target: 15-0 Birmingham

Corner kicks: 6-1

Fouls committed: 15-10 Birmingham

Offsides: 3-2 Atlanta

Possession: 53-47 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 85-83 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

BHM – Enzo Martinez 2’ (Juan Agudelo)
BHM – Prosper Kasim 37’ (penalty)
BHM – Marlon 39’ (Prosper Kasim)
BHM – Juan Agudelo 43’ (Jonathan Dean)

BHM – Enzo Martinez 74’ (Juan Agudelo)

BHM – Sadik Balarabe 87’ (Enzo Martinez)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Luke Brennan 44’ (yellow)

ATL – Efrain Morales 53’ (yellow)

ATL – Machop Chol 62’ (yellow)

BHM – Enzo Martinez 72’ (yellow)

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Justin Garces; Luke Brennan (Toni Tiente – HT), Bryce Washington, Noah Cobb, Raimar (Alan Carleton – 74’); Efrain Morales, Ajani Fortune ©, Nick Firmino; Machop Chol (Emenike Nwogu – 84’), Tristan Trager (Andrew De Gannes – HT), Darwin Matheus (Erik Centeno – HT).

Substitutes not used: Vicente Reyes, Pavel Romero.

BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC STARTING LINEUP

Matt Van Oekel; Jonny Dean, Alex Crognale, Phanuel Kavita (Anderson Asiedu – 59’), Miguel Lopez; Enzo Martinez, Zach Herivaux, Bruno Lapa (Matthew Corcoran – 59’); Marlon (Mataeo Bunbury – HT), Juan Agudelo (Sadik Balarabe – 77’), Prosper Kasim (Ryan James – 70’).

Substitutes not used: Trevor Spangenberg, Grayson Dupont.

OFFICIALS

Jervis Atagana (referee), Brian Marshall (assistant), Ryan Starr (assistant) Aleksandar Zhelyaxkov (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• Andrew De Gannes made his professional debut
• Justin Garces recorded a career-high nine saves