Atlanta United 2 fell 3-0 to Charleston Battery on Friday night at Patriot’s Point Soccer Complex in Charleston, South Carolina. Forward Amadou Macky Diop and midfielder Abdoulaye Diop made their starting XI debuts for Atlanta.
The first opportunity fell to Charleston’s midfielder Zeiko Lewis, but Ben Lundgaard made a diving save to his left in the 14th minute. Just a minute later, Atlanta’s Jackson Conway had a great opportunity from a Caleb Wiley cross but his diving header went inches over the bar.
In the 20th minute, Charleston took the lead as Nicque Daley was open at the top of the box and slotted home a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. Lundgaard was once again called into action in the 37th minute making a diving save to thwart Robbie Crawford’s curling free kick and keeping the score 1-0 at halftime.
The Battery doubled the lead early in the second half. Nicholas Rittmeyer was on the end of a Logan Gdula cross and headed the ball past Lundgaard in the 49th minute. Atlanta’s best scoring chance of the second half fell to Macky Diop, but his header from a Jack Gurr free kick went over the bar. In stoppage time, Charleston sub Arthur Bosua completed the score line with a right-footed volley from in close.
ATL UTD 2 (0-3-1, 1 point) returns to action Wednesday, July 29 when they host Miami FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 0, Charleston 3
Patriot’s Point Soccer Complex
Charleston, South Carolina
STATS
Shots: 21-10 Charleston
Shots on Target: 9-1 Charleston
Corner kicks: 4-4
Fouls committed: 15-12 Atlanta
Offside: 3-2 Atlanta
Possession: 52-48 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 83-77 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
CHS – Nicque Daley 20’ (Zeiko Lewis)
CHS – Nicholas Rittmeyer 49’ (Logan Gdula)
CHS – Arthur Bosua 90+9’ (Stavros Zarokostas)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
CHS – Deshawon Nembhard (yellow) 10’
CHS – Robbie Crawford (yellow) 55’
ATL – Abdoulaye Diop (red) 81’
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Ben Lundgaard; Jack Gurr, Modou Jadama ©, Garrison Tubbs; Caleb Wiley (David Mejia 74’), Abdoulaye Diop, William Reilly, Coleman Gannon; Phillip Goodrum (Amir Bashti 65’), Amadou Macky Diop (Daniel Steedman 74’), Jackson Conway (Ajani Fortune 84’).
Substitutes not used: Vicente Reyes, Baboucarr Njie, Nigel Prince.
CHARLESTON BATTERY STARTING LINEUP
Phil Breno; Deshawon Nembhard (Jay Bolt 62’), Logan Gdula (Kyle Nelson 84’), Leland Archer, Jarad van Schaik ©; Zeiko Lewis (Kierron Mason 72’), Nicholas Rittmeyer, Angelo Kelly-Rosales; Romario Piggott (Stavros Zarokostas 62’), Robbie Crawford, Nicque Daley (Arthur Bosua 72’).
Substitutes not used: Paul Lewis, Temiloluwa Adesodun.
OFFICIALS
Izlen Peksenar (referee), Justin Howard (assistant), Joe Suchoski (assistant), Zachary Perry (fourth)
TEAM NOTES
- Abdoulaye Diop and Amadou Macky Diop made their first starts with Atlanta United 2
- Ben Lundgaard made a season-high six saves tonight
