Atlanta United 2 is one step closer to making history.

Atlanta United 2 defeated CT United FC 4-1 Tuesday at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, moving into third place in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference and putting itself in position to clinch its first-ever playoff berth.

The win pushed Atlanta to 13-8-5 and 45 points, while Cameron Dunbar reached another milestone with his 20th goal contribution of the season.

With the regular season winding down, every point matters—and Atlanta United 2 delivered when the pressure was at its highest.

Atlanta United 2 Takes Control Early

The match opened as a back-and-forth contest, with neither side able to establish a sustained advantage in the opening 20 minutes.

Atlanta finally broke through in the 22nd minute.

Andrew Jardines stood over a free kick on the left side of the box and clipped a dangerous cross toward Mohamed Cisset at the back post.

Cisset attempted to redirect the ball back toward the middle, but his header popped into the air.

Daniel Chica reacted first.

Chica jumped over his marker and redirected the loose ball toward goal. The header deflected off Connecticut center back Lukas Kamrath, lofted over the goalkeeper and looped into the net.

Atlanta had its breakthrough—and a 1-0 lead.

Matthew Senanou nearly added another just before halftime.

In stoppage time, Santiago Pita delivered a deep cross from near the center circle toward Senanou, who had broken free from two defenders.

Senanou rose and flicked a bouncing header toward the bottom-left corner, but the attempt rolled just wide.

Atlanta went into halftime with a one-goal advantage.

CT United Goes Down to 10 Men

The match shifted significantly in the 54th minute when CT United FC was reduced to 10 players.

Senanou was shielding the ball inside his own penalty area when Connecticut winger Barnabas Tanyi pulled on his arm and committed a foul.

After the whistle, Tanyi kicked Senanou in the thigh as the Atlanta player walked away.

The referee immediately intervened and showed Tanyi a straight red card for violent conduct.

Atlanta now had a numerical advantage for the remainder of the match.

The 5-Stripes quickly made it count.

Pita, Dovlo Help Double Atlanta’s Lead

Atlanta doubled its advantage in the 66th minute, although the goal ultimately went down as an own goal.

The play started with another long ball from Jardines, this time toward Enzo Dovlo racing down the right flank.

Dovlo found himself surrounded by two defenders but stopped and spun away from the pressure.

He spotted Pita charging into the penalty area and delivered a diagonal pass with his left foot.

Pita just missed getting the final touch, but Connecticut center back Michael Boamah was positioned behind him.

Boamah’s attempted clearance went badly wrong, sending the ball into his own net.

Atlanta led 2-0.

Connecticut Finds a Way Back

Despite playing with 10 men, CT United found a response in the 79th minute.

Atlanta’s turnover started the move.

Jardines was pressured by Connecticut midfielder Robbie Mora near midfield and lost possession, allowing CT United to break forward.

Mora carried the ball ahead before finding Daniel D’Ippolito making a run between Senanou and Cisset.

The pass put D’Ippolito through inside the box.

One-on-one with Jonathan Ransom, D’Ippolito calmly finished across his body into the bottom-left corner.

The goal cut Atlanta’s advantage to 2-1 and briefly gave Connecticut a path back into the match.

That path didn’t stay open for long.

Cameron Dunbar Reaches 20 Goal Contributions

Dunbar restored Atlanta’s two-goal advantage in the 85th minute—and reached another important season milestone in the process.

Dovlo received a pass from Chica at midfield and drove directly through the center of the pitch.

As he approached the final third, Dovlo found Dunbar unmarked inside the box.

Dunbar faced a defender but used two quick touches to keep the defender off balance before wrapping a right-footed shot around him and beyond the goalkeeper.

Goal No. 20 in Dunbar’s goal-contribution total was complete.

The finish effectively put the match out of reach and capped another productive night for one of Atlanta United 2’s most influential attacking players.

Another Own Goal Caps Atlanta’s Night

Atlanta added a fourth goal deep into stoppage time, with Kamrath unfortunately becoming the second Connecticut player to put the ball into his own net.

After Amir Henry’s cross was deflected, the ball fell to Dominik Chong Qui on the left side of the box.

Chong Qui’s heavy touch forced him to go to ground as he attempted to play the ball across toward Arif Kovac in front of goal.

Kamrath attempted to cut out the pass, but his momentum carried him into the ball.

The deflection sent it into the Connecticut goal.

Atlanta United 2 had its 4-1 victory.

What This Means for Atlanta United 2

The three points are about more than moving up the Eastern Conference table.

Atlanta entered Tuesday knowing a win, combined with an NYCFC II draw or loss and Huntsville claiming one point or fewer Wednesday night, would be enough to clinch the club’s first-ever MLS NEXT Pro playoff appearance.

Those results outside of Atlanta’s control still matter, but the 5-Stripes handled their part of the equation.

At 45 points, Atlanta United 2 has put itself in a strong position as the playoff race reaches its final stretch.

The club also continues to receive major contributions from players such as Dunbar, whose 20th goal contribution provided another reminder of the attacking quality Atlanta has developed at the MLS NEXT Pro level.

Community Spotlight: Protecting What Matters as Atlanta Moves Forward

Atlanta United 2 is building toward an important milestone, and the club’s progress is another reminder of how much strong local foundations matter. From young players developing their careers to families building their lives across Metro Atlanta, protecting the things that matter most helps create opportunities for what’s next.

Atlanta Soccer News is proud to recognize Water Savers Atlanta, a Metro Atlanta community partner focused on helping homeowners address water and plumbing needs while protecting the places where families live and gather. Reliable home systems can make a major difference in everyday life, especially when unexpected water issues can quickly disrupt a household.

As Atlanta United 2 continues its push toward the playoffs, Metro Atlanta families are also preparing for their next chapters at home. If you’re looking for help with water-related or plumbing needs, learn more about Water Savers Atlanta and the services they provide to local homeowners.

Next Steps

Atlanta United 2 now turns its attention to a road matchup with Chattanooga FC.

The 5-Stripes travel to Chattanooga on Sunday, Sept. 13, for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Finley Stadium.

The match will be available through MLSNEXTPro.com, the OneFootball App and Soccer Down Here.

With the playoffs within reach, Atlanta United 2 has another opportunity to strengthen its position—and potentially finish the job on its historic postseason push.

ASN TAKE

Atlanta United 2 is making its playoff push look increasingly real.

The 4-1 result wasn’t just another three points. Atlanta responded to the pressure of a potential playoff-clinching scenario, moved into third place and got another standout contribution from Cameron Dunbar.

The most important part is that Atlanta controlled what it could control.

Now the attention turns to the results around the conference—and Sunday’s trip to Chattanooga.

For a club chasing its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro playoff appearance, the finish line is getting very close.

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Author: Quique Lopez

Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.