June 16, 2021 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Atlanta United 2 News Release
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Atlanta United 2 fell 1-0 on the road at Memphis 901 FC Wednesday night. Rocco Ríos Novo tied his season-high of six saves and Atlanta United Homegrown Bryce Washington made his professional debut.
Atlanta had an early look on goal from Connor Stanley in the fifth minute when he fired off a right-footed shot, but it was easily gathered by John Berner. Later in the first half, Ríos Novo was called into action in the 34th minute. Mark Segbers chipped a ball into the box, where Michael Salazar headed it to the back post, but the 18-year-old quickly adjusted to make a stretching save with his left hand and tapped it down into his possession.
A few minutes later in the 36th minute, Ajani Fortune was handed his second yellow card of the game, leaving Atlanta with only ten men on the field.
Ríos Novo also had a busy second half. Memphis had another look on goal in the 58th minute when Andre Fortune found Laurent Kissiedou in the box, and he fired a one-time shot. However, the goalkeeper made a diving save to his left to parry the ball away. Memphis eventually broke through off a corner kick from Kissiedou in the 75th minute. Skylar Thomas headed the ball down to the left corner and past the keeper.
Atlanta continued to push forward in search of the equalizer late in the second half. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Stanley tried to burry a one-time shot, but the Memphis goalkeeper made a sliding save.
ATL UTD 2 (3-3-3, 12 points) will return to action against OKC Energy FC, June 27 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta 0, Memphis 1
AutoZone Park
Memphis, TN
STATS
Shots: 18-10 Memphis
Shots on Target: 7-4 Memphis
Corner kicks: 6-1 Memphis
Fouls committed: 20-18 Memphis
Offside: 2-0 Memphis
Possession: 56-44 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 79-76 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
MEM – Skylar Thomas (Laurent Kissiedou) 75′
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Ajani Fortune (yellow) 25′, (second yellow) 36′
ATL – Will Reilly (yellow) 29′
MEM – Leston Paul (yellow) 52′
ATL – Caleb Wiley (yellow) 60′
MEM – Mark Segbers (yellow) 72′
ATL UTD 2 STARTING LINEUP
Rocco Ríos Novo; Bryce Washington, Bradley Kamdem Fewo ©, Josh Bauer; Will Reilly, Robbie Mertz, Ajani Fortune, Caleb Wiley, Connor Stanley; David Mejia (Darwin Matheus – 65′), Matías Benítez (Alexander Garuba – 75′)
Substitutes not used: Vincente Reyes, Efrain Morales, Amadou Macky Diop
MEMPHIS 901 FC
John Berner; Zach Carroll, Mark Segbers, Skylar Thomas, Leston Paul © (Mitch Guitar – 74′), Laurent Kissiedou (Raul Gonzalez III – 83′); Andre Reynolds, Andre Fortune (Rashawn Dally – 74′); Dominic Oduro, Kadeem Dacres (Francis Atuahene – 65′), Michael Salazar (Kyle Murphy – 83′)
Substitutes not used: Brecc Evan, Brady Scott
OFFICIALS
Jeremy Scheer (referee), Ryan Staff, (assistant), Austin Holt, (assistant), Benjamin Meyer (Fourth Official)
TEAM NOTES
Atlanta United Homegrown signee Bryce Washington made his professional debut versus Memphis 901 FC.
Rocco Ríos Novo completed the match with six saves on seven shots on target, tying his season high.
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