Arif Kovac's Brace Lifts a Tired Atlanta United 2 to a Historic 10th Win

Atlanta United 2 beat New York City FC II 3-2 on Sunday at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, picking up its 10th win of the season, the first time in team history it has reached double digits in a single campaign. Arif Kovac scored twice, once in each half, to reclaim the top spot in the MLS NEXT Pro goal contributions race, and Atlanta needed every bit of that cushion once New York twice pulled a goal back late.

Not much sleep for Ignacio Suarez-Couri and four of his teammates, but they all contributed to a 3-2 win. (photo: Vanessa Angel for the SDH Network)

Five Atlanta starters had been traveling with the first team and did not get home until after 3 a.m. Goalkeeper James Donaldson, center back Toto Majub, midfielder Adrian Gill, attacking midfielder Ignacio Suarez Couri, and Kovac all started anyway.

"That five guys landed late yesterday, and we were trying to manage how they felt on the field, that's the reason some of them got subbed out," head coach Jose Silva said. "But [from] the moment they stepped on the field, they showed the solidarity to work for the group and get the three points."

Atlanta controlled the opening half. Enzo Dovlo drew two defenders on the right wing before finding Andrew Jardines in the half space, and Jardines lofted a cross to the back post for Kovac, who rose above a single marker and guided a right footed volley into the top corner in the 12th minute. Atlanta out shot New York eight to one in the first half and did not allow a shot on target, the second straight match it has kept a clean sheet through the opening 45.

Jose Silva has led Atlanta United 2 to ten wins this season, the best season on the field in club history. (photo: Vanessa Angel for the SDH Network)

"That shows the ideas we wanted to present," Silva said. "We knew it was going to be a tough match. New York have good players and good combinations, so our main idea was to keep it far from our goal. Enzo did an incredible job today, sometimes defending higher, sometimes lower, to help [Daniel] Chica."

Kovac doubled the lead in the 66th minute. Jardines carried the ball deep into the New York third and laid it off to Gill, who slipped a ball in behind for Kovac to run onto and finish into the bottom corner, his 15th goal of the season and 18th goal contribution overall.

"I think we dominated the first half, we had good possession," Gill said. "Second half we came out dominating, [then] two-nil. I got the assist to Arif on the second goal. Then I think it was just overconfidence, some guys were tired, we made a few small mistakes, but we ended up clutching it out."

New York cut the deficit to one in the 70th minute when a misplayed pass from Gill fell to Niccolo Vafiades, who beat Donaldson near post. Liam Butts restored the two goal cushion in the 86th, finishing off his knee after a give and go with Cameron Dunbar, before Juan Ponce headed New York back within one two minutes later. Atlanta faced three shots and three corners in the final seven minutes of stoppage time and held on.

"When we scored the second one, we were like, everything is done, we're going to have a good day," Silva said. "And sadly, that goal we gave them created momentum, and they were all over us for fifteen, twenty minutes plus extra time."

Dominik Chong Qui contributed on both sides of the ball throughout the win over NYC. (photo: Vanessa Angel for the SDH Network)

It was not a clean performance, and it did not need to be. The heat and humidity slowed the pace at times, and the back line had to shift shape constantly, sometimes a back four, sometimes five, with center backs pushing high depending on how many bodies New York committed forward.

"We had to cover, we had to step," Majub said. "It was up and down, but we had to stay in the game because we needed it."

Majub had missed time with injury and started alongside Mohamed Cisset and Daniel Chica, both of whom worked to close gaps all afternoon. "I'd been out for a while, I wasn't with the team because I was injured, but I came into the game because I'd been training with them," Majub said. "So the chemistry was already there. We just had to talk to each other and communicate a lot."

Dunbar wore the captain's armband and covered ground on both ends, drawing praise from his coach for a performance built around a role change.

Cameron Dunbar led the team by example as captain on Sunday. (photo: Vanessa Angel for the SDH Network)

"He was incredible today, one of his best performances," Silva said. "During the week we were working on something different with him in Enzo's role, being wide, because of the way they were pressing. We gave Cameron the freedom to float around."

Gill and Jardines continued to build the partnership at the center of Atlanta's midfield, each willing to cover for the other's mistakes.

"He understands we're both pretty mobile in central midfield, so if I go right, he goes left, if I go left, he goes right," Gill said. "We're just moving off each other, one two touches. It's nice playing with him."

Dominik Chong Qui got up and down the left flank all match, and the group leaned on each other when it mattered most, including through Jardines cramping late.

"I can't speak for Andrew, but I'm guessing it's pretty similar for me," Gill said of playing through mistakes. "It's kind of an ego thing. I lose the ball, I want to get it back. I don't let one mistake bring my mentality down in the game."

Atlanta (10-6-3, 33 points) returns to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Friday, July 31 to face Carolina Core FC.

"I had a long flight yesterday, but I had to play ninety minutes today," Majub said. "I had to give my best to help the team win, which we did. Now we just have to focus on the next one."