MARIETTA, Ga. (Oct. 16, 2026) - Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to CT United FC on Friday at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta. Atlanta out-shot its opponents and controlled the majority of possession but could not find an equalizer in the match. Atlanta United 2 concludes its 2026 MLS NEXT Pro campaign after securing its most goals, assists, points and wins in team history.
Five minutes after both clubs kicked off their first-ever playoff match, Connecticut took the lead through its top scorer Barnabás Tanyi. After Bryan Destin chased a long ball to the right corner flag, he whipped in a bouncing cross toward the center of the Atlanta box. Alex Monis, who was the man in the area, was unable to connect with a shot, and Adrian Gill managed a brief clearance with his back heel. However, the ball rolled backward only as far as Tanyi, who had the time and space to slot an attempt past Jayden Hibbert and give his side an early lead.
In the 21st minute, Enzo Dovlo nearly equalized for Atlanta as he saw a one-on-one attempt crash off the goal post. Gill, from the midfield stripe, lofted a through ball to Dovlo down the right wing. With pace, Dovlo was able to stay on the shoulder of the last defender before sprinting onto the ball and away from everyone as he entered the box on the right side. Sizing up a shot on his left foot, Dovlo waited for the keeper to drop to strike an attempt, but the ball careened off the near post and back to him. His follow-up effort was aimed for the bottom left corner, but it too fell victim to the post at the far end.
Atlanta went on to dominate the remainder of first half play, maintaining 64 percent possession and out-shooting Connecticut five to zero, however, it could not find a breakthrough as it entered the second half still trailing.
In the second half, though Atlanta again controlled the majority of possession, it did not find its next big chance until the eighth minute of stoppage time, when Santiago Pita had an open header in the box. As Seyi Fakiyesi dribbled down the center of the pitch, he found Cameron Dunbar on the left wing, who then quickly played a through pass back to Fakiyesi, who met the ball at the end line. After a touch to control the ball and drop his defender, Fakiyesi lofted a cross to the back post, where Pita was standing free. Pita waited for the ball to arrive before loading up and launching his head into it, however the powerful effort rose too high and brushed the top of the goal before sailing out of play.
The match ended after the 14th minute of stoppage time, when an outside-the-box shot from Dovlo curled wide to the right, giving CT United its first playoff win in team history and concluding the 2026 Atlanta United 2 season.
