MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Drops SCCL Opener to C.S. Herediano 3-1

Published on February 22, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


HEREDIA, Costa Rica - Atlanta United fell to C.S. Herediano 3-1 in the first leg of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16. The return leg is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Jose Guillermo Ortiz opened the scoring for Herediano in the eighth minute. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez attempted a back-pass to Brad Guzan, but Ortiz intervened and chipped his shot past Guzan and into the vacated net.

Herediano doubled the lead in the 34th minute from Randall Azofeifa. Atlanta lost a battle in the midfield and Herediano countered past the high backline, as Ortiz played Azofeifa in alone on Guzan. The midfielder slotted to the near post for the 2-0 lead.

Julian Gressel put Atlanta on the board seven minutes later after his shot redirected off of Pablo Salazar. Gressel cut in from the right wing and aimed a left-footed shot for the far corner; however, it deflected off of Salazar's back and sailed into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

But Herediano doubled its lead soon after halftime, scoring in the 50th minute from a set piece. George Bello picked up a yellow card after colliding with an attacker near the edge of the box. On the ensuing free kick, Azofeifa drilled a ball toward the back post for an unmarked Esteban Granados, who redirected the ball into the back of the net.

The two teams will return to Atlanta for the second leg on Thursday, Feb. 28. Kickoff from Kennesaw State University's Fifth Third Bank Stadium is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (EST). The winner will then face either CF Monterrey or Alianza FC in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

MATCH INFO

FIRST LEG CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16

C.S Herediano 3, Atlanta United 1

Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero Stadium

Heredia, Costa Rica

STATS

Shots: 16-14 Herediano

Shots on Target: 7-3 Herediano

Corner kicks: 6-4 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 17-11 Herediano

Clearances: 19-15 Atlanta

Offside: 2-2 Herediano

Possession: 53-47 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 80-80

SCORING SUMMARY

CSH - Jose Guillermo Ortiz 8'

CSH - Randall Azofeifa (Jose Guillermo Ortiz) 34'

ATL - Julian Gressel (Pity Martinez) 41'

CSH - Esteban Granados (Azofeifa) 50'

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CSH - Randall Azofeifa (yellow) 47'

ATL - George Bello (yellow) 49'

CSH - Omar Arellano (yellow) 71'

CSH - Keyser Fuller (yellow) 92'

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan; Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Miles Robinson, Michael Parkhurst ©; George Bello, Jeff Larentowicz, Eric Remedi, Julian Gressel; Ezequiel Barco (Darlington Nagbe - 59'), Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez (Tito Villalba - 76').

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Brek Shea, Gordon Wild, Mikey Ambrose, Brandon Vazquez,

C.S. HEREDIANO STARTING LINEUP

Daniel Cambronero; Keyner Brown, Keysher Fuller, Pablo Salazar ©; Esteban Granados, Omar Arellano, Jimmy Marin (Gerardo Lugo - 81'), Randall Azofeifa, Luis Diaz (Heyreel Saravia - 70'); Aldo Magaña (Mynor Escoe - 61'), Jose Guillermo Ortiz.

Substitutes not used: Jairo Mone, Berny Montiel, Junior Diaz, Christian Reyes.

OFFICIALS

César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos (referee), Miguel Ángel Hernández Paredes (assistant), Alberto MorÃ-n Méndez (assistant), Jorge Antonio Pérez Durán (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

Atlanta made its club debut in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

C.S. Herediano had five new starters in its Starting XI from this weekend's match against Perez Zeledon.

Average age of starters: C.S. Herediano - 27.9, Atlanta - 25.9

At age 17, George Bello is the youngest starter in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League through each match's first leg.

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

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