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USL Atlanta United 2

ATL UTD 2 Falls 4-2 at North Carolina FC

July 27, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Atlanta United 2 News Release


CARY, N.C. - Atlanta United 2 fell 4-2 against North Carolina FC Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. Academy midfielder Will Vint scored his first professional goal while Bienvenue Kanakimana scored his third goal of the season. Featuring its youngest starting lineup in club history with an average age of 19.4 years old, ATL UTD 2 started four academy players and fielded five as defender Garrison Tubbs made his professional debut as a substitute.

Atlanta fell behind in the seventh minute when Donovan Ewolo found the opening goal. Kendall Edwards cleared a cross out of the box, but Ben Speas dumped it back in where Ewolo sent a volley into the top right corner.

North Carolina doubled its lead in the 15th minute as Nazmi Albadawi slipped Steven Miller in behind ATL UTD 2's backline where the captain finished with a low shot to the bottom left corner. Miller added to the lead in the 19th minute when he tapped in a cross from Speas.

Atlanta responded in the 34th minute through Vint. Kanakimana stole the ball on the left side and passed to Kevin Barajas in the middle of the field. Barajas then found Vint to his right standing roughly 10 yards outside of the box. The 17-year-old took a touch before firing a shot towards goal that took a slight deflection and soared into the top left corner.

Kanakimana brought the match within one goal just seven minutes later. After forcing a turnover in the center circle, Wesly Decas led a counter attack with a long run down the middle of the field. Decas laid the ball off for Kanakimana on the left side where the Burundian scored with a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner. It was Kanakiamana's third goal of the season and Decas' first assist with the club.

North Carolina extended its lead when Ewolo scored his second of the night just before the half when he finished off a cross from Miller in the 45th minute.

ATL UTD 2 produced a number of opportunities to cut into the deficit in the second half. In the 64th minute Andrew Carleton delivered a free kick into the box where Decas put a header on frame, but it was caught in the top right corner by goalkeeper Alex Tambakis. In the 77th minute Laurent Kissiedou found space at the edge of the 18-yard box and took a shot toward the bottom left corner, but his attempt drifted just wide of the post.

ATL UTD 2 (3-12-5, 14 points) returns to action Friday, Aug. 2 against Loudoun United at 7:30 p.m. EST at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Atlanta 2, North Carolina 4

WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, North Carolina

STATS

Shots: 14-8 North Carolina

Shots on Target: 8-3 North Carolina

Corner kicks: 2-2 Tied

Fouls committed: 13-12 Atlanta

Saves: 4-1 Atlanta

Offside: 1-1 Tied

Possession: 62-38 North Carolina

Passing Accuracy: 89-82 North Carolina

SCORING SUMMARY

NC - Donovan Ewolo (Benjamin Speas) 7'

NC - Steven Miller (Nazmi Albadawi) 15'

NC - Steven Miller (Donovan Ewolo, Benjamin Speas) 19'

ATL - Will Vint (Kevin Barajas) 34'

ATL - Bienvenue Kanakimana (Wesly Decas) 41'

NC - Donovan Ewolo (Steven Miller) 45'

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL - Andrew Carleton (yellow) 66'

ATLANTA UNITED 2 STARTING LINEUP

Dylan Castanheira ©; Guillermo Benitez, Wesly Decas, Kendall Edwards (Garrison Tubbs - 71'), Brandon Clagette; Kevin Barajas (Luiz Fernando - 70'), Will Vint, Will Reilly; Andrew Carleton, Bienvenue Kanakimana; Patrick Okonkwo (Laurent Kissiedou - 45').

Substitutes not used: Paul Christensen, Alessandro Castro.

NORTH CAROLINA FC STARTING LINEUP

Alex Tambakis; D.J. Taylor, Viktor Igbekoyi (Caleb Duvernay - 86'), Sam Brotherton, Steven Miller ©; Aarón Guillén, Nazmi Albadawi (Graham Smith - 81'), Andre Fortune, Benjamin Speas; Yamikani Chester (Austin da Luz - 79'), Donovan Ewolo.

Substitutes not used: Darrin MacLeod, Robert Kristo, Austin Panchot, Duval Wapiwo.

ATTENDANCE

4,175

OFFICIALS

Gustavo Solorio (referee), Jordan Davis (assistant), Jeremy Smith (assistant), Hicham Bariqi (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

Will Vint scored his first professional goal

Bienvenue Kanakimana scored his third goal of the season and is now tied for the team lead

Wesly Decas recorded his first assist with the club

Kevin Barajas recorded his first assist of the season

Garrison Tubbs made his professional debut as a second half substitute

Will Reilly made his first professional start

ATL UTD 2 presented its youngest starting lineup in club history with an average age of 19.4 years old

Check out the Atlanta United 2 Statistics

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