Atlanta United defeated Charlotte Independence 3-0 Tuesday night at Fifth Third Stadium in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Nick Firmino earned a brace while Daniel Ríos added a third goal late. Josh Cohen made his club debut and made two saves to keep a clean sheet. The two short-term signings, Matthew Edwards and Ashton Gordon, started for Atlanta and Edwards notched an assist.
After a scoreless first half where each side put one shot on target, Atlanta’s attack broke out in the second 45 with three goals. Firmino’s first of the night came in the 52nd minute on a play that began down the right wing. Luke Brennan played a through ball to Matt Edwards running toward the end line where he cut back a low cross to the top of the box. Dax McCarty played a dummy, allowing the ball to roll to Firmino where he put a shot into the bottom left corner.
Atlanta continued to pressure Charlotte’s goal and nearly doubled the lead in the 59th minute when Ronald Hernandez lofted a cross from the left side to the back post where Ríos turned a shot on goal, but Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack pushed it out for a corner. On the ensuing set piece, McCarty blasted a shot on frame, but Pack again was positioned well to deny the goal.
Firmino doubled Atlanta’s lead in the 71st minute. Cohen took a goal kick which was flicked on by Ríos down the left flank for Caleb Wiley. The Homegrown dribbled into the box before delivering a pass to Firmino where he one-timed a low shot into the far side of the goal.
Atlanta put the game away with a third goal in the 85th minute. The play again began with a free kick from Cohen, this time up the right side to Brooks Lennon where he won a header which Silva gathered. The Portuguese winger fought off a defender, took a touch toward the end line, and sent a ball across the six-yard box where Ríos tapped in Atlanta’s third and final goal.
Atlanta moves on to the Round of 16 where it will face the winner of Wednesday’s Charleston Battery vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC match. The schedule and locations for the Round of 16 will be announced Thursday, May 9.
The Five Stripes return to MLS Regular Season play on Saturday, May 11 when it hosts D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of ATL UTD