Atlanta United 2 defeated Charleston Battery 3-1 Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Luiz Fernando, Andrew Carleton and Jack Metcalf each scored to give Atlanta the win and run its unbeaten streak to three matches.
ATL UTD 2 opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Jackson Conway tackled the ball away from Angelo Kelly-Rosales on the edge of the center circle in Charleston’s half of the field. Fernando picked up the loose ball, dribbled into the box and used a step-over to his right to create space for a shot before he chipped it over goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky.
Charleston equalized in the 26th minute through Nico Rittmeyer. Taylor Mueller played a bouncing ball behind the Atlanta backline where Rittmeyer ran on to it and poked it into the bottom right corner.
After checking into the match at halftime, Andrew Carleton quickly restored ATL UTD 2’s lead in the 49th minute. The play began with Jose Hernandez playing a long ball down the left side for Fernando. The Brazilian ran towards the end line before he cut it back onto his right and laid it off for Carleton, who blasted a left footed shot near the penalty spot into the left side of the net.
Atlanta finished the scoring in the 74th minute when George Bello drew a penalty after he was taken down in the box by Rittmeyer. Jack Metcalf stepped to the spot and drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner for his second of the season.
ATL UTD 2 (7-16-6, 27 points) returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 25 against Indy Eleven at 7:30 p.m. EST at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
