Atlanta United 2 fell 3-1 at The Miami FC to close out the 2020 USL Championship season. Jackson Conway scored his sixth goal of the season, but Miami scored three unanswered goals to pick up the victory.
Atlanta struck first in the 13th minute on a beautiful effort. Patrick Nielsen played a long ball over the top into space from his own half. Conway raced onto the ball and struck it on the bounce into the top corner past Miami’s keeper for the 1-0 lead. ATL UTD 2 nearly doubled the lead in the 17th minute, but Amir Bashti’s volley was saved by the on-rushing Mark Pais in Miami’s goal.
The lead lasted until the 30th minute, when Romario Williams equalized from the penalty spot. Ben Lundgaard was judged to have brought down Prince Saydee in the box, and Williams converted the penalty into the top left corner. The teams stayed locked at 1-1 into halftime.
Miami took the lead early in the second half after Saydee scored on a shot to the top right corner in the 50th minute. Atlanta nearly found an equalizer in the 56th minute off a set piece. Jack Gurr sent a free kick to the far post where an unmarked Bashti headed the ball towards goal, but Pais made another diving stop to keep the ball out.
In the 73rd minute, Miami looked to extend the lead, but Lundgaard made a spectacular kick save to deny Mohamed Thiaw’s penalty kick after Nielsen was whistled for a foul in the box. As Atlanta pushed for the game-tying goal, Miami struck on the counter in stoppage time through Sebastian Velasquez to make the final score 3-1 in favor of the hosts.
ATL UTD 2 (3-10-3, 12 points) finishes the 2020 USL Championship season in fourth place in Group H.
-Jon J.
Photo: Courtesy of ATL UTD2