Atlanta United 2 played to a 2-2 draw with OKC Energy FC Sunday night at Taft Stadium. ATL UTD 2 battled back twice from a one-goal deficit to split the points as Matías Benítez scored his first goal for the club in his debut while Homegrown Tyler Wolff netted a late equalizer for his first professional goal.
ATL UTD 2 dictated the pace early, controlling the majority of possession and holding Energy FC without a shot for the initial 35 minutes. Despite Atlanta’s early control, it was OKC who found the game’s first goal in the 36th minute. Atlanta failed to clear an Energy FC corner and Villyan Bijev buried the loose ball with a low shot to the bottom right corner.
Atlanta responded early in the second half when Darwin Matheus earned a penalty in the 54th minute. OKC attempted to play a back pass to goalkeeper C.J. Cochran, but Matheus intercepted the ball and dribbled into the box where Conor Donovan clashed with him. Benítez took the penalty, but Cochran made a diving save to the bottom right corner. However, the ball fell right to Benítez who easily tapped in the tying goal.
Energy FC regained the lead in the 65th minute from a set piece. Tucker Stephenson delivered a free kick from the left side into the center of the box and the ball was deflected into the air. Mitchell Osmond finished with an acrobatic leaping kick into the right side of the net.
However, ATL UTD 2 again tied the match with just moments remaining. After good work from Benítez down the left side earned Atlanta a corner kick, it was played short to Connor Stanley, who also made his debut. Stanley played a cross into the box where it was knocked down to an unmarked Wolff standing on the left side of the six-yard box. The Homegrown blasted a half-volley shot into the side-netting for the equalizer in the 89th minute.
Atlanta tried to steal the game-winner in stoppage time when academy forward Coleman Gannon attempted to curl a shot into the top-left corner from just outside the 18-yard box on the right side, but it missed just wide of the far post.
ATL UTD 2 (1-1-1, 4 points) returns to action for its home opener against FC Tulsa Wednesday, May 19 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET).
-Jon J.
Photo: Courtesy of ATLUTD
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