Atlanta United 2 will have to wait one more week to make history.
Atlanta United 2 fell 4-1 to Chattanooga FC Sunday at Finley Stadium, but the defeat did not knock the club out of playoff position. The Five Stripes remain just one point away from clinching the first playoff berth in club history.
Arif Kovac provided Atlanta’s lone goal late in the match, but it was an important one for another reason.
His 89th-minute header was his league-leading 19th goal of the season, allowing Kovac to reclaim sole possession of the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot lead after Chattanooga’s Jonathan Krehl had briefly tied him at 18 earlier in the match.
Atlanta now turns its attention to one final regular-season opportunity to secure its postseason place.
Chattanooga Takes Advantage of Early Mistake
The hosts opened the scoring in the 10th minute following a costly Atlanta mistake.
Chattanooga’s Daniel Mangarov carried the ball down the left side before sending a low shot toward Jonathan Ransom from a tight angle inside the box.
The Atlanta goalkeeper appeared to have the attempt covered as he lowered himself to collect it.
Instead, the ball slipped through Ransom’s arms and legs and rolled toward the goal line.
Krehl reacted immediately.
The Chattanooga forward beat both Ransom and Mohamed Cisset to the loose ball and tapped it into an empty net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
It was an unfortunate opening goal for Atlanta, particularly after Ransom initially appeared to be in position to make the save.
Atlanta Controls Possession but Can’t Find an Equalizer
Despite falling behind, Atlanta United 2 responded by taking control of much of the possession.
The visitors looked like the more likely team to find the next goal for much of the remainder of the first half.
Chattanooga’s defensive structure, however, limited the number of clear opportunities available to Atlanta.
The Five Stripes moved the ball around the field and continued looking for an opening, but neither side created another major scoring chance before halftime.
Atlanta went into the break trailing 1-0 despite controlling much of the play.
Chattanooga Pulls Away After the Break
The match changed quickly after halftime.
Chattanooga increased its pressure and doubled its advantage in the 62nd minute.
Following a goal kick, Eldin Jakupovic sent the ball toward the right wing, where Yves Tcheuyap found space.
Tcheuyap carried the ball forward before spotting Alex McGrath’s run behind the Atlanta defense.
His through ball split three Atlanta defenders and sent McGrath in alone.
Ransom came off his line to try to shut down the opportunity, but McGrath calmly finished into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.
Three minutes later, Chattanooga added another.
The hosts worked the ball around the edge of Atlanta’s penalty area with a quick passing sequence involving four players.
Krehl eventually got a shot away from the left side of the box.
Ransom made the initial save, but the rebound fell directly to substitute Luke Husakiwsky, who was positioned near the penalty spot.
Husakiwsky made no mistake with the follow-up, pushing Chattanooga’s advantage to 3-0.
Chattanooga Adds Fourth Before Kovac Responds
The hosts added another goal in the 86th minute.
A free kick was lofted toward the back post, where Farid Sar-Sar tracked the ball and headed it back toward the middle of the penalty area.
Ransom got a touch to the pass but couldn’t push the ball far enough away from danger.
Damien Barker John was waiting and tapped the rebound into an open net to make it 4-0.
Atlanta finally broke through three minutes later.
Kovac Retakes Sole Golden Boot Lead
Kovac gave Atlanta a late consolation goal in the 89th minute — but the finish carried significance beyond the final score.
Patrick Weah held up the ball inside the box before playing it backward to Toto Majub.
Majub immediately spotted Kovac in the center and delivered a first-time cross.
Kovac attacked the ball and redirected it past Jakupovic with a flick of his head.
The goal was his 19th of the MLS NEXT Pro season.
That moved Kovac back into sole possession of the league’s Golden Boot lead.
Kovac and Krehl had entered the match separated by just one goal, and Krehl’s first-half goal temporarily brought the Chattanooga forward level at 18.
Kovac’s late header restored his advantage.
With one regular-season match remaining, the race for the scoring title now has another storyline to watch.
One Point Away From Making Club History
The bigger picture remains positive for Atlanta United 2 despite Sunday’s result.
The club sits at 13-9-5 with 45 points and remains in position to clinch its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro playoff berth with one point in its final regular-season match.
That opportunity comes Sunday, Sept. 20, when Atlanta travels to Florida to face Orlando City B at Osceola Heritage Park.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The match will be available on MLSNEXTPro.com and the OneFootball App, with coverage also available through Soccer Down Here.
After an otherwise difficult afternoon in Chattanooga, Atlanta has a simple objective:
Get one point and make history.
Community Spotlight: Building Strong Foundations for What’s Next
Atlanta United 2 may have come away from Chattanooga without the result it wanted, but the bigger picture remains encouraging. One point against Orlando City B would secure the first playoff berth in club history, giving the team an opportunity to build on everything it has accomplished throughout the season. Across Metro Atlanta, strong foundations matter too—whether you’re building toward a postseason run or improving the place you call home.
Atlanta Soccer News is proud to recognize Able Concrete of Georgia, a Metro Atlanta community partner specializing in concrete and hardscaping projects designed to improve outdoor spaces. From driveways and patios to walkways and other custom concrete projects, Able Concrete of Georgia helps homeowners create functional spaces built for everyday life.
As Atlanta United 2 prepares for a chance to make club history, Metro Atlanta homeowners are also looking for ways to build something lasting. If you’re considering a new driveway, patio, walkway or outdoor improvement, learn more about Able Concrete of Georgia and the services they provide.
ASN TAKE
Atlanta United 2 won’t want to look back fondly on Sunday’s 4-1 loss, but the result doesn’t change the bigger picture.
The Five Stripes are still just one point away from the postseason.
That makes next Sunday’s match against Orlando City B potentially the biggest game in Atlanta United 2’s young history.
There is also an individual storyline worth watching.
Kovac’s 19th goal not only gave Atlanta something to celebrate late in Chattanooga — it put him back on top of the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race.
So Atlanta heads into the finale with two things on the line:
A playoff berth for the club and a Golden Boot for its leading scorer.
One point can secure the first.
Kovac will be looking for more goals to secure the second.
Follow AtlantaSoccer.News for more Atlanta United, Atlanta United 2, MLS NEXT Pro and Georgia soccer coverage, and share your thoughts in the comments.
Have Atlanta-area soccer news, a team update, event or community story to share? Submit Your Soccer News to AtlantaSoccer.News.
Recommended Internal Links
- Atlanta United 2 Beats CT United FC 4-1, Moves Closer to First MLS NEXT Pro Playoff Berth
- Atlanta United 2 Draws Inter Miami CF II, Wins Penalty Shootout Behind Cameron Dunbar’s Record Night
- Atlanta United 2 Loans Liam Butts to Loudoun United FC
- Atlanta Soccer News: Cameron Dunbar Player Tag & Historical Coverage
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.