At Fifth Third Stadium on Sunday night, Atlanta United 2 defeated Toronto FC II 2-1 to win their third straight game. Forward Rodrigo Neri scored his third goal in four games in the second half, while seventeen-year-old Kaiden Moore scored his first goal as a professional.
The first goal of the game came from a right-footed free kick by striker Julian Altobelli of Toronto in the sixteenth minute. The kick curled over the defensive wall and into the upper right corner of the net to give Toronto an early 1-0 lead.
In the 26th minute, midfielder Javier Armas floated a ball over the defense for Luke Brennan, who was running into the box. However, Toronto defender Marko Stojadinovic wrapped up Brennan’s arm to deny the goal scoring opportunity and was given a straight red card. This turned the tide of the match in favor of Atlanta. The next time around, Nick Firmino had a close miss on an equalizer when his shot bounced off the woodwork, but Moore was there to tap in his first goal as a professional.
Atlanta United 2 (6-9-4, 24 points) will travel to Chase Stadium on Sunday, August 18 (7:00 p.m. ET, Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, Soccer Down Here) to play Inter Miami CF II. The remaining ATL UTD 2 games are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com, with the option to watch certain matches on the Apple TV app if you have an MLS Season Pass.u
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.