It was a night of high drama and relentless action as Atlanta United 2 wrapped up their road trip with a tough 6-2 defeat against New York Red Bulls II. Despite the final scoreline, the young squad showed glimpses of their potential, with Karim Tmimi continuing his scoring spree and Dominik Chong Qui netting his first professional goal. The match, filled with ups and downs, was a testament to the team’s fighting spirit, even as they faced a formidable opponent.
The game kicked off with a surge of energy from both sides, but it was New York who struck first. In the 14th minute, Malick Zanke Dembele sliced through Atlanta’s defense with a precise pass, setting up Tanner Rosborough to calmly finish into the bottom left corner. Atlanta United 2, however, didn’t shy away from the challenge. Just 13 minutes later, after a brilliant sequence of 15 passes involving 10 players, Jacob Williams delivered a pinpoint cross that found Tmimi, who stretched out to level the score with a clinical finish. This goal marked Tmimi’s third in as many games, underscoring his growing importance to the team.
Unfortunately, New York Red Bulls II responded with a flurry of goals before the half-time whistle. A mishit clearance by Williams led to an own goal in the 43rd minute, followed by a stunning long-range strike from Julian Hall, and a stoppage-time header from Juan Gutierrez Ruiz, which left Atlanta trailing 4-1 at the break. The rapid succession of goals was a harsh blow for Atlanta United 2, who had fought valiantly to stay in the contest.
In the second half, Atlanta United 2 sought to claw their way back into the match. Chong Qui’s moment came in the 95th minute when he connected on a volley after a well-placed flick from Noble Okello, securing his first professional goal. This late effort provided a glimmer of hope, but New York quickly extinguished it as Hall scored his second goal just minutes later, sealing the 6-2 victory.
Now, with the road trip behind them, Atlanta United 2 (3-8-3, 13 points) returns home, eager to regroup and recharge. They will face Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday, July 14, at Fifth Third Stadium, where they will look to turn these individual moments of brilliance into a full team effort. The match is set to be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com, with some games available through an MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Fans will be hoping to see the squad bounce back and show the resilience that defines Atlanta soccer.
