For the very first time, Southern rivals Atlanta United and Charlotte FC squared off in a cup competition, and the matchup absolutely delivered.
The score may not have been high, but the football was intense. The tackles were tough, the passing sharp, and on a beautiful night in Charlotte, it was the 5-Stripes who took the key moments. A goal in each half led to a 2-0 victory, and Atlanta United downed their rivals to advance to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
What happened
The 5-Stripes took charge in the first five minutes, consistently winning the ball and driving it forward. Alexey Miranchuk had a shot saved in the 8th minute, a half chance but one where the 5-Stripes worked the ball into a dangerous spot on the right side of their attack.
Maintaining possession, Atlanta were patient and perhaps cautious not to waste their legs on just two days of rest.
Alexey Miranchuk and Luke Brennan had a lovely combination for the first goal of the match. Brennan made a run through the middle of the pitch, where Miranchuk flicked the ball onto him. They played a 1-2, and Miranchuk got the ball on his favored left foot and curled a strike. It took a deflection and careened into the top left corner of the net in the 22nd minute.
Matías Galarza got his head on the end of a cross in the 25th minute and nearly made it a second in quick succession, but the ball soared over the frame.
Charlotte responded with some promise, earning a corner and forcing the 5-Stripes further back into their defensive third. Still, the best chances were being created by Atlanta. Miranchuk and Enea Mihaj connected on a free kick in the 37th minute, and the defender's flicked header flew just over the bar.
The hosts pushed to end the half, but the 5-Stripes maintained their 1-0 advantage. Things started direct in the second half, with both teams eager to get forward. Charlotte and Atlanta traded attacks with varying degrees of threat. Jayden Hibbert punched away a cross that became a shot on the most dangerous Charlotte move.
In the 63rd minute, head coach Tata Martino called on reinforcements. Emmanuel Latte Lath, Cooper Sanchez and Pedro Amador joined. Charlotte did the same in the 67th, with Kerwin Vargas, Idan Toklomati and Rodolfo Aloko coming on to form an entirely fresh front three.
The fresh legs of Sanchez proved dynamic in the 72nd minute. He made a run for a ball over the top, which keeper Tyler Miller came to claim. He collided with his own defender around the left side of the 6-yard box, and Sanchez snatched up the ball and turned it into an open net. The 5-Stripes led 2-0 thanks to Sanchez' first goal as a First Team player.
The match winded down slowly, and help from other substitutes Ronald Hernández and Tristan Muyumba helped the 5-Stripes cushion the match to a victory. In the first ever cup matchup between the rivals, it was Atlanta who took the result.
Standouts
- Alexey Miranchuk scored in consecutive matches for the second time this season. The captain was pivotal for the 5-Stripes once again and tallied his 6th goal in all competitions in 2026.
- Enea Mihaj played a full 90 minutes and showed just how commanding he can be on the backline. The Albanian was constantly screaming to communicate with the rest of the defensive line at all times and led the 5-Stripes to a clean sheet.
Milestones
- Jay Fortune made his 75th career appearance for Atlanta United. He becomes the second club Homegrown to ever make at least 75 appearances for the club (Caleb Wiley, 85).
- Cooper Sanchez, a substitute, scored the first goal of his Atlanta United career. The Homegrown midfielder is still just 18-years old.
Next up
Atlanta United returns home for a match against CF Montréal Saturday, May 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET as the 5-Stripes look to start a win streak in MLS play.
