Atlanta United 2 suffers 3-1 loss at Birmingham Legion FC

Atlanta United 2 lost 3-1 against Birmingham Legion FC Wednesday night at BBVA Field. Phillip Goodrum netted his second goal of the season.

Atlanta and Birmingham opened the match with a flurry of action. In the ninth minute, Atlanta built out of the back and kept possession in the final third, patiently waiting for an opening. Connor Stanley received the ball at the top of the box and had time to fire a shot from distance. However, Goodrum turned with the shot, settled it and placed his shot side netting to score the game’s first goal.

Less than two minutes later, Birmingham responded with a goal of its own. Jonathan Dean served a driven ball into the box to J.J. Williams, who redirected the cross to the back post and into goal.

Both clubs continued to battle and exchange shots for the remainder of the first half. Atlanta almost found its second goal in the 22nd minute when Stanley lifted a ball over the back line to Darwin Matheus. The midfielder tried to volley it first time, but it went just over the crossbar. Goodrum had a chance in the 26th minute to grab his second of the night off a bouncing layoff from Aiden McFadden, but the forward’s shot was ever rising. 

In the second half, Legion FC scored two goals to secure three points at home. Mikey Lopez buried a shot from a rebound in the 49th minute to put Birmingham ahead by one. A few minutes later, Junior Flemings extended Birmingham’s lead. Williams found Flemmings on the opposite side of the box, where the forward fired a shot that took a deflection and found its way to the back of the net. 

ATL UTD 2 (4-7-6, 18 points) will return to action against Indy Eleven, August 8 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 1, Birmingham 3

BBVA Field

Birmingham, AL

STATS

Shots: 17-13 Birmingham

Shots on Target: 6-2 Birmingham

Corner kicks: 4-2 Birmingham

Fouls committed: 13-12 Birmingham

Offside: 4-4

Possession: 52-48 Atlanta 

Passing Accuracy: 78-75 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Phillip Goodrum (Connor Stanley) 9’

BHM – J.J. Williams (Jonathan Dean) 11’ 

BHM – Mikey Lopez 49’

BHM – Junior Flemmings (J.J. Williams) 51’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Aiden McFadden (yellow) 40’

ATL – Josh Bauer (yellow) 62’

BHM – Jonathan Dean (yellow) 81’

BHM – Eli Crognale (yellow) 89’

ATL – Ajani Fortune (yellow) 90+3’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Bryce Washington, Caleb Wiley, Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden; Chris Allan (Noah Cobb – 80’), Darwin Matheus (David Mejia – 65’), Robbie Mertz © (Abdoulaye Diop – 65’), Phillip Goodrum (Amadou Macky Diop – 57’), Connor Stanley (Ajani Fortune – 65’), Tyler Wolff

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Alexander Garuba

BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC STARTING LINEUP

Matt Van Oekel; Phanuel Kavita ©, Alex Crognale, Jonathan Dean; Anderson Asiedu, Mikey Lopez, J.J. Williams (Ryan James – 78’), Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Marcos Ugarte – 70’); Prosper Kasim (Neco Brett – 70’), Junior Flemmings (Jaden Servania – 78’), Zachary Herivaux (Eli Crognale ­– 57’)

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Ofeimu, Trevor Spangenberg

OFFICIALS

John Matto, (referee), Austin Holt, (assistant), Zachary McWhorter, (assistant), Kendall McCardell, (fourth official)

TEAM NOTES

• Phillip Goodrum netted his second goal of the season. 
• Connor Stanley picked up his second assist of the season. 

ABOUT ATL UTD 2

ATL UTD 2 is owned and operated by AMB Sports & Entertainment and is the United Soccer League (USL) affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. ATL UTD 2 joined USL for its expansion 2018 season and plays its home matches at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.