Atlanta United kicked off their 2025 preseason on Saturday with a tough 2-1 loss against MLS NEXT Pro side Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium. This marked the first match under new head coach Ronny Deila, who used the opportunity to assess his squad’s fitness and tactical progress just two weeks into preseason training.
Match Summary
The game featured two distinct Atlanta United lineups, with separate groups playing each half. All three goals came in a frenetic 10-minute stretch late in the second half, highlighting a mix of positives and areas for improvement for the 5-Stripes.
- Goal Scorer: Ronan Wynne, the rookie out of the University of Denver, scored Atlanta’s lone goal with a well-taken header off a corner kick delivered by Saba Lobjanidze.
- Chattanooga quickly responded with two goals—an unassisted strike by Jesús Ibarra and a set-piece winner in the 87th minute.
Key Takeaways
- Encouraging Performances from Youth Players:
Dominik Chong Qui, Luke Brennan, Matt Edwards, and Ronan Wynne impressed with their confidence and creativity, showcasing their readiness to contribute to the squad. Chong Qui, in particular, looked solid in defense, while Brennan’s flair and Edwards’ vision on the right wing stood out. - First Half Highlights:
Atlanta’s first half ended scoreless but showed promise, with Mateusz Klich making his debut and displaying his experience with sharp passing and set-piece delivery. Luke Brennan and Matt Edwards combined well to create dangerous moments, and Noah Cobb anchored the defense effectively in front of his hometown crowd. - Second Half Action:
The intensity picked up in the second half, with Ronan Wynne scoring off a set piece and several close chances from Saba and Edwin Mosquera nearly rescuing a draw for Atlanta United. New striker Cayman Togashi made his debut and showed glimpses of his potential.
Deila’s Focus
Deila emphasized the importance of performance and learning over results in this preseason opener, saying it was vital to see how players reacted to different scenarios. The team conceded twice after scoring first, providing valuable lessons for the coaching staff to address.
What’s Next?
Atlanta United will use the takeaways from this match as they continue preparing for the 2025 MLS season opener against CF Montréal on February 22. The team’s next preseason match will allow further experimentation and development as players build chemistry and match fitness.
First Half Starting XI:
Brad Guzan; Tristan Muyumba, Jamal Thiaré, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Mateusz Klich, Luis Abram, Xande Silva, Matt Edwards, Dominik Chong Qui, Alexey Miranchuk
Second Half Starting XI:
Josh Cohen; Ronald Hernández, Efraín Morales, Edwin Mosquera, Bartosz Slisz, Saba Lobjanidze, Stian Gregersen, Will Reilly, Jay Fortune, Ronan Wynne, Cayman Togashi
