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USL Atlanta United 2

Atlanta United 2 Plays to Scoreless Draw at Tampa Bay

June 2, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Atlanta United 2 News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Atlanta United 2 drew 0-0 with Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium in a match which saw each team have a player sent off in the first half. Paul Christensen matched his season-high with four saves to help ATL UTD 2 post its first clean sheet of the season and snap a five-match road losing streak. It was the first time Tampa Bay was held scoreless at home since the start of the 2017 season.

"I'm happy with our group and pleased to get our first clean sheet of the season," said ATL UTD 2 head coach Scott Donnelly. "With our playing style, we have to be good in one-v-one defending moments as well as organized in transition, and some of the work we have done is starting to show up. A definite step forward, a good point and a to do it with 10 men against a dangerous attacking team is progress."

Atlanta came out the aggressor in the early going and had a pair of scoring opportunities inside the first 20 minutes. Midfielder Laurent Kissiedou nearly scored in the third minute when he ripped a left-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area that missed wide right. ATL UTD 2 again almost took the lead in the 16th minute off a free kick into the 18-yard box from Jose Carranza. AJ Cochran headed the cross toward center of goal where Andrew Kendall-Moullin flicked the ball on frame, but Tampa Bay's goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald blocked the shot and the play ended with a foul by Atlanta.

ATL UTD 2's momentum was checked after defender Will Crain was sent off for being shown his second yellow card of the match in the 40th minute following a foul on Joe Cole. Tampa Bay's one-man advantage, however, was short-lived after the Rowdies' Marcel Schafer was given a straight-red card for violent conduct on Oliver Shannon in the 44th minute.

A 10-on-10 second half presented a more defensive-minded Atlanta side while Tampa ripped nine of its 13 total shots. Christensen was called into action multiple times and denied Tampa Bay's Leo Fernandes twice in the final eight minutes of the match to preserve the result. In the 82nd minute Christensen made a diving save on his near post to his right which led to a corner kick that was ultimately cleared. Minutes later in the 86th, Fernandes took a touch behind Atlanta's defense for a one-on-one opportunity, but Christensen rushed out to block the attempt.

Atlanta almost stole the three points in the first minute of stoppage time after Carranza served a ball into the box from the left side that found the head of Devon Sandoval. However, the forward's header missed just inches wide of the left post.

ATL UTD 2 (2-6-4, 10 points) returns to action Saturday, June 9 against Indy Eleven at 7:00 p.m. EST at Lucas Oil Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

LINE SCORE

Atlanta 0, Tampa Bay 0

Al Lang Stadium

St. Petersburg, Florida

STATS

Shots: 8-13 Tampa Bay

Shots on Target: 3-5 Tampa Bay

Corner kicks: 1-2 Tampa Bay

Fouls committed: 15-15 Tied

Saves: 4-3 Atlanta

Offside: 2-2 Tied

Possession: 62-38 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 86-75 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

None

DISCIPINARY SUMMARY

TBR - Martin Vingaard (yellow) 25'

ATL - Will Crain (yellow) 33'

ATL - Will Crain (red) 40'

ATL - Jack Metcalf (yellow) 43'

TBR - Marcel Schafer (red) 44'

TBR - Joe Cole (yellow) 90'

ATL - Andrew Kendall-Moullin (yellow) 90+2'

ATLANTA UNITED 2 STARTING LINEUP

Paul Christensen; Will Crain, AJ Cochran, Andrew Kendall-Moullin, Jack Metcalf ; Chris Goslin, Oliver Shannon; Laurent Kissiedou (Shawn Nicklaw - 82'), Jose Carranza, Jon Gallagher (Jose Hernandez - 45'); Yosef Samuel (Devon Sandoval - 58').

Substitutes not used: Nico Caraux, Kevin Barajas, Alessandro Castro.

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP

Akira Fitzgerald; Hunter Gorskie, Tamika Mkandawire, Ivan Magalhaes; Lance Rozeboom (Martin Vingaard - 20'), Marcel Schafer; Michael Nanchoff (Leo Fernandes - 74'), Joe Cole , Max Lachowecki; Jochen Graf (Alex Morrell - 66'), Junior Flemmings.

Substitutes not used: Cody Mizell, Sebastian Guenzatti, Leon Taylor, Georgi Hristov.

ATTENDANCE

5,953

OFFICIALS

JJ Bilinski (referee), Amilcar Sicaju (assistant), Haris Besic (assistant), Jasmine Peralta (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

Atlanta recorded its first clean sheet of the season

Atlanta held Tampa Bay scoreless at home for the first time since the start of the 2017 season

Paul Christensen matched his season-high with four saves

Will Crain received his first red card of the season, the team's second

The result snapped a five-match road losing streak

Check out the Atlanta United 2 Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 2, 2018


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