Atlanta United vs. New York City FC
Atlanta United Earns 2-2 Draw
Firmino Scores Game Tying Goal in Stoppage Time
Atlanta Latinos Magazine – Atlanta United came in to the game a depleted squad with four key starters missing due to various reasons. New York City FC entered the game having not won a road match all seasons and winless in its last ten matches. All of which added up to an exciting, entertaining contest, one that saw Atlanta United salvage a point late in stoppage time.
Atlanta got off to an inauspicious start. Less than a minute into the game, NY’s Gabriel Pereira scored a goal, his fifth of the season. It continued a disturbing trend of Atlanta conceding early goals.
However, Atlanta responded in the 11th minute. Tyler Wolff took a pass from Jay Fortune and blasted the ball through the NY goalkeeper. It was Wolff’s fourth goal of the year, continuing a hot streak of goal scoring. He has those four goals in just seven appearances and only 230 minutes of game action.
In the second half, New York added an early goal. In the 55’, Pereira added his second goal of the game. The assist was given to Richard Ledezma, his team leading fifth of the season.
Atlanta continued to fight. With less than two minutes of stoppage time remaining, Atlanta found the magic of Nick Firmino. Brooks Lennon hit a beautiful cross that found an open Firmino, who bounced a header into the back of the net. It was Firmino’s first MLS goal in his first appearance, scoring in only his eighth minute of game action. Firmino was called up from Atlanta United 2.
Atlanta was missing several key starters. Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis was out due to yellow card accumulation. Star midfielder Thiago Almada, Miles Robinson, and Derrick Etienne were all out due to international duty.
Atlanta controlled possession 59% to 41%. Atlanta led in total shots 12 to 3. It was a game that Atlanta probably should have won yet got lucky enough to depart with a point. With the tie, Atlanta moved to 5th place in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta next plays on the road against NY Red Bulls on Saturday, June 24th.
Notes… Tyler Wolff made his first start of the season…Machop Chol earned his first assist of the season and second of his career…Atlanta extended its streak to seven matches without a loss, although five of those were ties…New York FC remains winless on the road this season…attendance was announced as 42,557.
