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MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Stays Unbeaten, Defeats Charlotte FC 3-0

March 11, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley
Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley
(Atlanta United FC)

ATLANTA - Atlanta United defeated Charlotte FC 3-0 in its first road match of the season Saturday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. Caleb Wiley scored twice and added an assist as Atlanta scored early and often with three first-half goals. Luiz Araújo scored his first goal of the season, while Thiago Almada added his second assist. Brad Guzan made three saves to keep his first clean sheet of the season and Atlanta stayed unbeaten through three matches to open the 2023 season - the first time it's done that in club history.

Atlanta created its first goal with high pressure in Charlotte's half. Near midfield, Amar Sejdic broke up a pass with a diving tackle that played the ball forward. Thiago Almada was the first to the loose ball and took a pair of touches before perfectly weighting a pass to Wiley near the edge of 18. A clean first touch set Wiley up on goal and he deftly beat Pablo Sisniega with a shot just under the bar for 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

Araújo doubled the lead just seven minutes later for the fastest two goals to start a game in club history. Miguel Berry played a ball down for Wiley, who found space in the center of Charlotte's half and played Araújo just inside the box. The Brazilian winger then cut back and powerfully beat Sisniega with a low shot to the near post.

The rest of the first half played out evenly, but Atlanta added a third goal just before the break. In the second minute of stoppage time, Almada made a breathtaking run through the heart of the midfield, blowing by Brandt Bronico and drawing several defenders before he played to his right for Araújo. This time, Araújo sent a low cross into the box that found Wiley at the far post. The 18-year-old calmly slotted passed a diving Sisniega to make it 3-0.

With a three-goal lead, Atlanta effectively killed off the match in the second half by keeping Charlotte away from goal. Charlotte's 56 percent possession in the second half led to just four attempted shots with only one going on target. Giorogs Giakoumakis came on for his second appearance while Santiago Sosa and Ajani Fortune each made their season debuts. For Fortune, it was his MLS debut, coming on in second half stoppage time.

Atlanta United returns to action when it hosts Portland Timbers March 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.

Match Summary

Stats

Shots: 13-12 Atlanta

Shots on target: 5-3 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 5-4 Charlotte

Fouls Committed: 15-14 Atlanta

xG: 1.48-1.46 Charlotte

Possession: 54-46 Charlotte

Passing accuracy: 80-74 Charlotte

Scoring

ATL - Caleb Wiley (Thiago Almada) 5'

ATL - Luiz Araújo (Caleb Wiley) 12'

ATL - Caleb Wiley (Luiz Araújo, Thiago Almada) 45+2

Disciplinary

ATL - Miguel Berry 26' Yellow

ATL - Amar Sejdic 35' Yellow

ATL - Caleb Wiley 69' Yellow

CLT - Enzo Capetti 90' Yellow

Notes

Atlanta is unbeaten through three matches for the first time in club history.

Atlanta scored three goals in the first half for the seventh time in club history. It was the first time since May 7, 2022 when Atlanta defeated Chicago Fire 4-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Caleb Wiley registered his first professional brace. He also became just the third player in club history to score two goals and add an assist in the game.

Santiago Sosa made his season debut.

Ajani Fortune made his his MLS debut.

Attendance: 31,538

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

GK: Brad Guzan (c)

D: Brooks Lennon

D: Miles Robinson

D: Juanjo Purata

D: Andrew Gutman

M: Franco Ibarra

M: Amar Sejdic (Santiago Sosa - 70')

M: Thiago Almada

M: Luiz Araujo (Ajani Fortune - 90+3')

M: Caleb Wiley (Derrick Etienne - 70')

F: Miguel Berry (Giorgos Giakoumakis - 59')

Substitutes not used:

Quentin Westberg

Luis Abram

Ronald Hernandez

Machop Chol

Tyler Wolff

CHARLOTTE FC STARTING LINEUP

GK: Pablo Sisniega

D: Bill Tuiloma

D: Nathan Byrne (Harrison Afful - 68')

D: Adison Malanda

D: Brandt Bronico

M: Ashley Westwood (c)

M: Andre Shinyashiki (Kerwin Vargas - 67')

M: Derrick Jones

F: Enzo Capetti

F: Karol Swiderski (Nuno Santos - 82')

F: Kamil Jozwiak

Substitutes not used:

George Marks

Jaylin Lindsey

Joseph Mora

Ben Bender

Chris Hegardt

McKinze Gaines

OFFICIALS

Ismail Elfath (referee), Jeffrey Greeson (assistant), Diego Blas (assistant), Andrew Bigelow (fourth), Drew Fischer (VAR), Craig Lowry (AVAR).

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Images from this story

Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley
Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley
   



Major League Soccer Stories from March 11, 2023


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