NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Wins Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Defeats Minnesota United 2-1

August 28, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


ATLANTA - Atlanta United defeated Minnesota United 2-1 to win the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night in front of a tournament final record crowd of 35,709 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Behind an own-goal and a game-winner from Pity Martinez, Atlanta won its third major trophy in club history, its second this season and its first Open Cup. With the win, Atlanta qualified for the 2020 Concacaf Champions League.

Atlanta took the lead in the 10th minute through an own goal. Julian Gressel passed to Pity Martinez on the right wing just outside of the box. Martinez then found Leandro Gonzalez Pirez making an overlapping run where he attempted a cross, but it took a deflection off Chase Gasper and spun viciously, falling just underneath the crossbar and over the head of goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Pity Martinez doubled the lead six minutes later. Justin Meram received the ball wide on the left flank with plenty of space. The winger backed down Romain Metanire before cutting towards the end line and sending a cross to the center of the box. Running through the middle of the penalty area, Martinez one-timed a left-footed shot into the roof of the net. It was Martinez's second goal of the tournament.

Minnesota cut into the deficit two minutes into the second half with a goal from Robin Lod. Kevin Molino sent in a cross from the right side as Lod made a run across the box and redirected the ball off the left post and into the goal.

Josef Martinez appeared to have scored in the 53rd minute after he buried a cross from Meram following a give-and-go on the left side, but Meram was ruled to be offside on the initial pass. Three minutes later, Martinez was again denied by a diving save from Mannone.

Atlanta United was reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute when Gonzalez Pirez was shown his second yellow card of the match and a subsequent red card. The Atlanta defense was able to see-out the final 16 minutes of play with a valiant defensive effort, weathering nine of Minnesota's 13 second-half shots.

Atlanta United (15-9-3, 48 points) returns to MLS action Saturday, Aug. 31 in a first-place matchup against Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium (7:30 p.m. EST, FOX Sports Southeast, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).

MATCH INFO

Atlanta United 2, Minnesota United 1

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta, Georgia

STATS

Shots: 19-9 Minnesota

Shots on Target: 6-4 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 9-6 Minnesota

Fouls committed: 15-9 Minnesota

Clearances: 26-18 Minnesota

Offside: 4-2 Minnesota

Possession: 50-50

Passing Accuracy: 83-80 Minnesota

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL - Chase Gasper (own-goal) 10' [HIGHLIGHT]

ATL - Pity Martinez (Justin Meram) 16' [HIGHLIGHT]

MIN - Robin Lod (Kevin Molino) 47' [HIGHLIGHT]

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

MIN - Hassani Dotson (yellow) 29'

MIN - Osvaldo Alonso (yellow) 44'

ATL - Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (yellow) 71'

ATL - Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (second yellow, red) 74'

MIN - Chase Gasper (yellow) 87'

ATL - Franco Escobar (yellow) 87'

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan ©; Florentin Pogba, Miles Robinson, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez; Julian Gressel (Jeff Larentowicz - 85'), Eric Remedi, Darlington Nagbe, Justin Meram, Ezequiel Barco (Emerson Hyndman - 69'); Josef MartÃ-nez, Pity MartÃ-nez (Franco Escobar - 76').

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Tito Villalba, Mohammed Adams, Michael Parkhurst.

MINNESOTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Vito Mannone; Michael Boxall, Romain Métanire, Ike Opara, Chase Gasper, Osvaldo Alonso © (Darwin Quintero - 75'), Hassani Dotson, Robin Lod (Ethan Finlay - 69'), Jan Gregus, Kevin Molino (Abu Danladi - 85'), Mason Toye.

Substitutes not used: Brent Kallman, Bobby Shuttleworth, Miguel Ibarra, Lawrence Olum.

ATTENDANCE

35,709

OFFICIALS

Allen Chapman (referee), Brian Poeschel (assistant), Nick Uranga (assistant), Ramy Touchan (fourth), Brian Dunn (fifth).

TEAM NOTES

Frank de Boer became just the fifth MLS head coach to win the U.S. Open Cup in his first season with a new team.

He was also the first coach to win the trophy in his first season since 2003.

Atlanta qualified for the 2020 Concacaf Champions League, becoming the sixth team to do so, joining a quartet from Liga MX in Club America, Cruz Azul, Leon and Tigres, in addition to Jamaica's Portmore United. The tournament is slated to start next February.

Pity Martinez scored his second goal of the tournament.

Justin Meram registered his third assist of the tournament.

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from August 28, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central