Jon Gallagher and Mikey Ambrose celebrate a goal in the 3-1 Atlanta United 2 victory over New York Redbulls II. (photo ATL UTD 2)
Atlanta United 2 opened their inaugural season with a 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls II. The home team, in front of 5,615 fans, played an attacking style that is exciting to watch. Atlanta United 2 head coach Scott Donnelly on getting the first game win, “It feels great. Obviously, we’re happy with it. Proud of the guys, really pleased to have good fan support tonight and it was a good atmosphere here.”
The Atlanta United 2 squad featured heavily from the first team roster, including seven starters from the Atlanta United roster. Alec Kann the starting goalkeeper for Atlanta United on opening day last season, held the same honor for Atlanta United 2.
It took a few minutes for the home side to overcome first match nerves. However, within the first twenty minutes they were able to string together some decent possession. Atlanta showed excellent pace and connection between first team player Mikey Ambrose and MLS Super Draft selection Jon Gallagher. The working of this connection lead to the first goal. In the 25th minute, Gallagher was able to launch a cross deep into the box. Two Redbull defenders attempted to clear, before Atlanta United 2 forward Yosef Samuel performed an acrobatic bicycle type of kick to net the club’s first goal.
HISTORY MADE at the Proving Ground.
What a finish from @Yosefsamuel2 for the first-ever ATL UTD 2 goal!! pic.twitter.com/VZCIGQe59t
— ATL UTD 2 (@atlutd2) March 24, 2018
Less than ten minutes later, NYRB2 pulled back even with a goal of their own. Brian White headed in a goal over Kann in the 32nd minute. The ATL UTD 2 defense was caught in flux as they had cleared their lines only to lose possession, and Brain White was unmarked on a clean cross from outside the box.
Jon Gallagher continued to cause trouble for the NYRB2 defense. Just before the half, in the 40th minute he was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. He stepped up calmly, burying the shot in the back of the net.
Jon Gallagher buries the first PK for @atlutd2 pic.twitter.com/SsZxomsCs7
— Jason Bell (@jason_a_bell) March 25, 2018
The pace and work rate of Gallagher and Georgia native Yosef Samuel created plenty of scoring opportunities all evening. The 20-year old Samuel, spent the last two seasons at Bethlehem Steel after a stint with the Philadelphia Union Academy. Acquired in January, Samuel was born in Ethiopia but is a native of Atlanta after moving to the United States in 2007.
It was this combination of Gallagher with an assist from Samuel in the 52nd minute that closed out the scoring for the evening. They both looked dangerous on the attack all evening. Gallagher was substituted in the 55th minute for newly acquired Devon Sandoval, formerly with Real Salt Lake.
As NYRB2 looked to claim a goal and get back into the match, they started to push more players into offensive position. First team keeper, Alec Kann did the hard work keeping the back line organized. He had several key saves, one at close range in the 60th minute that was a solid strike. The defense under Kann did a better job in the second half as they were tested often. Atlanta United 2 center backs Miles Robinson and A.J. Cochran did a good job along the defensive back line and kept their shape much better than the first half. The defense unit looked more organized as the match progressed.
Coach Donnelly on the defensive effort, “There certainly were stretches where we had to defend and so I think we’d prefer to defend a little less or for fewer stretches. In the second half when Red Bull was chasing the game they were throwing numbers forward, they were taking chances and putting balls forward, so we had to be solid defensively. It’s certainly something we’ve trained a lot, it’s an important part of being a good team.”
Up next, Atlanta United 2 travel to the Sportsplex at Matthews on Saturday March 31 to take on the Charlotte Independence.
Atlanta United 2
Atlanta United
