Atlanta United 2 suffers 1-0 loss at Memphis 901 FC

Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 on the road at Memphis 901 FC Wednesday night. Rocco Ríos Novo tied his season-high of six saves and Atlanta United Homegrown Bryce Washington made his professional debut.

Atlanta had an early look on goal from Connor Stanley in the fifth minute when he fired off a right-footed shot, but it was easily gathered by John Berner. Later in the first half, Ríos Novo was called into action in the 34th minute. Mark Segbers chipped a ball into the box, where Michael Salazar headed it to the back post, but the 18-year-old quickly adjusted to make a stretching save with his left hand and tapped it down into his possession.

A few minutes later in the 36th minute, Ajani Fortune was handed his second yellow card of the game, leaving Atlanta with only ten men on the field.

Ríos Novo also had a busy second half. Memphis had another look on goal in the 58th minute when Andre Fortune found Laurent Kissiedou in the box, and he fired a one-time shot. However, the goalkeeper made a diving save to his left to parry the ball away. Memphis eventually broke through off a corner kick from Kissiedou in the 75th minute. Skylar Thomas headed the ball down to the left corner and past the keeper.

Atlanta continued to push forward in search of the equalizer late in the second half. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Stanley tried to burry a one-time shot, but the Memphis goalkeeper made a sliding save.

ATL UTD 2 (3-3-3, 12 points) will return to action against OKC Energy FC, June 27 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO 

Atlanta 0, Memphis 1

AutoZone Park

Memphis, TN

STATS

Shots: 18-10 Memphis

Shots on Target: 7-4 Memphis

Corner kicks: 6-1 Memphis

Fouls committed: 20-18 Memphis

Offside: 2-0 Memphis

Possession: 56-44 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 79-76 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

MEM – Skylar Thomas (Laurent Kissiedou) 75’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Ajani Fortune (yellow) 25’, (second yellow) 36’

ATL – Will Reilly (yellow) 29’

MEM – Leston Paul (yellow) 52’

ATL – ­Caleb Wiley (yellow) 60’

MEM – Mark Segbers (yellow) 72’

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Bryce Washington, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Josh Bauer; Will Reilly, Robbie Mertz, Ajani Fortune, Caleb Wiley, Connor Stanley; David Mejia (Darwin Matheus – 65’), Matías Benítez (Alexander Garuba – 75’)

Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Efrain Morales, Amadou Macky Diop

MEMPHIS 901 FC

John Berner; Zach Carroll, Mark Segbers, Skylar Thomas, Leston Paul © (Mitch Guitar – 74’), Laurent Kissiedou (Raul Gonzalez III – 83’); Andre Reynolds, Andre Fortune (Rashawn Dally – 74’); Dominic Oduro, Kadeem Dacres (Francis Atuahene – 65’), Michael Salazar (Kyle Murphy – 83’)

Substitutes not used: Brecc Evan, Brady Scott

OFFICIALS

Jeremy Scheer (referee), Ryan Staff, (assistant), Austin Holt, (assistant), Benjamin Meyer (Fourth Official)

TEAM NOTES

• Atlanta United Homegrown signee Bryce Washington made his professional debut versus Memphis 901 FC.
• Rocco Ríos Novo completed the match with six saves on seven shots on target, tying his season high.

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.