ATHENS, Ga. (June 11, 2025) - Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 to Huntsville City FC on a humid and rainy Wednesday evening at Turner Soccer Complex. Academy players Ayo Akintobi and DD Sibrian made their professional debuts, as Toto Majub made his debut for ATL UTD 2. Patrick Weah made his first start of the season.
Atlanta started quick and threatened Huntsville's goal early. Javier Armas dispossessed a Huntsville midfielder and played Moises Tablante wide, who was fouled on the left corner of the box. Armas stood over the set piece, but his near post attempt was saved in the upper-corner by Erik Lauta in the third minute.
Johnathan Ransom was called into action in the 13th minute. Blake Bowen received a chipped ball on the right side of Atlanta's box. The Huntsville captain touched it down and quickly drove a shot toward the far post, but the hometown goalkeeper pushed the ball away before it was cleared by the Atlanta defense.
In the 29th minute, Armas was dragged to the ground by Moises Veliz 25 yards from goal on the right toward the center of the box. Both Armas and Ryan Carmichael stood over the set piece and this time it was the Northern Irishman who would deliver, but his curling attempt went wide right of the post.
Atlanta held much of the possession in the first half. Ronan Wynne played a direct ball to Rodrigo Neri, who quickly spun and played Gabriel Wesseh through on goal. With a defender on his back the 17-year-old curled a promising shot from the right side, but it went past a diving Lauta and beyond the far post in the 37th minute.
On the stroke of halftime, Atlanta conceded a penalty through a handball by Adyn Torres. Christian Koffi stepped up and sent Ransom the wrong way, finishing in the bottom-right corner to take the lead into halftime.
The ball spent its time between the boxes for much of the second half, but Atlanta had an opportunity in the 67th minute. Armas fed Carmichael on the left, who chipped the ball to the far post. Neri connected on the header toward the bottom-right corner, but Lauta quickly dropped to make the save.
Atlanta created another set piece opportunity, this time a cross from the right side. Armas delivered an in-swinging cross toward the back post to find a diving Sal Mazzaferro, but his looping header went over the top of the crossbar for a goal kick in the 82nd minute.
Atlanta's final opportunity came in second half stoppage time. Tablante was fouled by Tyshawn Rose and Wesseh stepped up to deliver the set piece from the right. A low-driven ball was sent into the box and despite shouts for a handball, Huntsville cleared and the final whistle blew.
Atlanta United 2 (2-5-6, 14 points) returns to action Sunday, June 29 when it travels to Inter Miami CF II at Chase Stadium (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, Soccer Down Here). Some ATL UTD 2 matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app while the remainder of matches are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
