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USL Atlanta United 2

Atlanta United 2 Draws 2-2 at OKC Energy FC

May 16, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Atlanta United 2 News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - Atlanta United 2 played to a 2-2 draw with OKC Energy FC Sunday night at Taft Stadium. ATL UTD 2 battled back twice from a one-goal deficit to split the points as Matías Benítez scored his first goal for the club in his debut while Homegrown Tyler Wolff netted a late equalizer for his first professional goal.

ATL UTD 2 dictated the pace early, controlling the majority of possession and holding Energy FC without a shot for the initial 35 minutes. Despite Atlanta's early control, it was OKC who found the game's first goal in the 36th minute. Atlanta failed to clear an Energy FC corner and Villyan Bijev buried the loose ball with a low shot to the bottom right corner.

Atlanta responded early in the second half when Darwin Matheus earned a penalty in the 54th minute. OKC attempted to play a back pass to goalkeeper C.J. Cochran, but Matheus intercepted the ball and dribbled into the box where Conor Donovan crashed into him. Benítez took the penalty, but Cochran made a diving save to the bottom right corner. However, the ball fell right to Benítez who easily tapped in the tying goal.

Energy FC regained the lead in the 65th minute from a set piece. Tucker Stephenson delivered a free kick from the left side into the center of the box and the ball was deflected into the air. Mitchell Osmond finished with an acrobatic leaping kick into the right side of the net.

However, ATL UTD 2 again tied the match with just moments remaining. After good work from Benítez down the left side earned Atlanta a corner kick, it was played short to Connor Stanley, who also made his debut. Stanley played a cross into the box where it was knocked down to an unmarked Wolff standing on the left side of the six-yard box. The Homegrown blasted a half-volley shot into the side-netting for the equalizer in the 89th minute.

Atlanta tried to steal the game-winner in stoppage time when academy forward Coleman Gannon attempted to curl a shot into the top-left corner from just outside the 18-yard box on the right side, but it missed just wide of the far post.

ATL UTD 2 (1-1-1, 4 points) returns to action for its home opener against FC Tulsa Wednesday, May 19 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).

MATCH INFO

Atlanta 2, OKC Energy FC 2

Taft Stadium

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

STATS

Shots: 12-8 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 4-4 tied

Corner kicks: 5-4 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 26-20 OKC

Offside: 4-0 Atlanta

Possession: 58-42 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 78-72 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

OKC - Villyan Bijev 36'

ATL - Matías Benítez 56'

OKC - Mitchell Osmond 65'

ATL - Tyler Wolff 89'

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL - Aiden McFadden (yellow) 78'

OKC - Aiden Daniels (yellow) 86'

OKC - Conor Donovan (yellow) 90+1'

OKC - Charlie Ward (yellow) 90+2'

ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Rios Novo; Caleb Wiley, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden; Chris Allan (Efrain Morales - 76'), Tyler Wolff, Ajani Fortune (Brendan Lambe - 57'); Darwin Matheus (Coleman Gannon - 60'), Connor Stanley, Matías Benítez.

Substitutes not used: Vicente Reyes, Amadou Macky Diop.

OKC ENERGY FC STARTING LINEUP

C.J. Cochran; Mitchell Osmond, Conor Donovan ©, Robert Coronado, Samuel Rogers, Jonathan Brown, Aidan Daniels, Kodai Iida (Charlie Ward - 71'), Hiroki Kurimoto, Arun Basuljevic, Villyan Bijev (Tucker Stephenson - 38').

Substitutes not used: Groutchov Pierre, Sam Howard, Brad Dunwell, Kyle Ihn, Muengnenshime Goshit.

OFFICIALS

JC Griggs (referee), Matthew Rodman, (assistant), Seth Barton, (assistant), James Norris (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

Matias Benitez and Connor Stanley made their ATL UTD 2 debuts

Benitez scored his first goal with the club

Tyler Wolff scored his first professional goal

Ajani Fortune made his first appearance with the team this season

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 16, 2021


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