Atlanta United 2 lost 3-2 to Hartford Athletic Saturday night at Dillon Stadium. Andrew Carleton scored his first goal of the season and added an assist while Brandon Vazquez netted his third goal of the year.
After falling behind 1-0 from a Hartford penalty in the 27th minute, ATL UTD 2 stormed back in the second half with a pair of goals in less than two minutes. Vazquez and Luiz Fernando attempted a give-and-go just outside of the 18-yard box, but the return pass to Vazquez was behind the striker and he flicked it to Carleton trailing on the right side of the penalty area. The midfielder ran on to the ball where he blasted a shot from an acute angle into the roof of the net to equalize in the 57th minute.
Less than two minutes later, Carleton delivered a perfectly-weighted ball across the field for Jack Metcalf. The captain delivered a one-time cross on the end line that was placed directly on the head of Vazquez where he poked it to the far corner to take a 2-1 lead.
Hartford equalized in the 77th minute when Jose Angulo sent a cross from the right side to the back post where Wojciech Wojcik headed the ball past Brendan Moore. After Carleton was given a red card for a foul on Mads Jorgensen in the 85th minute, Hartford benefited from the one-man advantage as Wojcik scored the game-winner in the 89th minute when he headed in a cross from Elliot Hord.
ATL UTD 2 (5-14-5, 20 points) returns to action Wednesday, Aug. 28 against Memphis 901 FC at 7:30 p.m. EST at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
