Down Two Goals in Charlotte, Atlanta United Fight Back to a Draw

In an odd evening in uptown Charlotte, Atlanta United went down early but came back to grab a big road point against a rival Wednesday night.

Man of the Match performance from Elías Báez tonight in Charlotte. (photo: ATLUTD)

The line-up for Atlanta United saw the introduction of Junior Alonso in the backline joined by Elías Báez, Enea Mihaj, and Tomás Jacob. Lucas Hoyos was in net. The midfield had Tristan Muyumba and Will Reilly behind Alexey Miranchuk, Cooper Sanchez, and Miguel Almirón. Fafa Picault was up top. Three Atlanta United 2 players were signed to short-term agreements for this match and Saturday's match in Foxborough: Arif Kovac, Ignacio Suárez-Couri, and Toto Majub.

For Charlotte, Kristijan Kahlina started in net. Harry Toffolo, Tim Ream, Morris Agyemang, and Jack Cleary were at the back. Liel Abada, Luca de la Torre, Ashley Westwood, and Kerwin Vargas were the midfield for head coach Dean Smith. Archie Goodwin and Pep Biel were up top.

Early on, Atlanta United were working directly over the top with Junior Alonso looking with the long ball trying to combine with Miguel Almirón. That work by design was combined with Alexey Miranchuk and Cooper Sanchez on the right-hand side in the 11th minute trying to get the Five Stripes going.

One key moment happened in the 15th minute for Charlotte FC. The end of the play was Kerwin Vargas' 4th goal of the season. The beginning of the play had Ashley Westwood swinging a high right boot and making contact with the head of Elías Báez. No foul was called, Charlotte came down in transition and scored after an initial Hoyos save.

The PRO crew would go to VAR for a second look, but not on the Westwood contact with Báez. They would look at a possible "violent conduct" decision on Will Reilly. Reilly, after a review of longer than four minutes, was given a yellow card rather than the red he might have drawn from the review.

Short of a Miguel Almirón shot in the 38th minute saved by Kahlina, Fafa Picault attempted a header on net off a corner, and Alexey Miranchuk was continuing to try and find combinations that included Cooper Sanchez.

In the 45th minute, Charlotte would get a second goal on a Liel Abada header at the near post. Pep Biel would register his sixth assist on the season. A play recycled after more than one set of deflections and redirections ended up on the right side of the 18 for Biel to cross to Abada.

Lucas Hoyos and Kristijan Kahlina would both be called on to make saves in stoppage time and a moment at 45+8 was a point for Atlanta United to try and have a possible spot kick. Miguel Almirón and Luca de la Torre came together inside the 18. Tata Martino was looking for a review and was given a yellow card for his request.

At the half, Charlotte had the advantage on the scoreboard, shots (11-7 and 6-3 on target), and touches inside the 18 (20-15).

In the second half, United broke a 164-minute scoreless run as Fafa Picault would find Tomás Jacob down the right-hand side in the 57th minute. Jacob would send a cross to Elias Báez. Báez would launch a header past Kristijan Kahlina and the near post to close the margin to 2-1.

Báez almost got a brace on a class delivery on a set piece from Miguel Almirón in the 73rd minute but Almirón would get the equalizer five minutes later. A right-footed scuff from eight yards out drew the match even for the remaining minutes plus an anticipated bulk of stoppage time.

Ignacio Suárez-Couri gets a first-team debut as a late sub for Cooper Sanchez to bring in fresh legs. And, in nine minutes added by center ref Sergii Boiko, a pulldown of Miranchuk running down the central channel went without a call as both teams went for a game winner.

A late set piece off a yellow card issued to Tomás Jacob gave Charlotte one last chance and it was eventually cleared by Atlanta United for the end of a 2-2 draw.

Both teams combine for 36 shots (24-12 Charlotte, 9-6 on target) and 57 touches inside the opposition 18-yard boxes and 11 big chances (6-5 Charlotte).

Lucas Hoyos was the highest-rated player for Atlanta United on the night, credited with seven saves to go with 16 completions passing and four long balls to go with 13 defensive recoveries. The backline, with Junior Alonso in his debut and the continued growth of Elias Báez and Tomás Jacob, is another point of focus going forward.

Atlanta United can take what was learned about themselves, 45 minutes at a time, to Foxborough, Massachusetts for a match against the Revolution Saturday night trying to end the stretch of three matches in a week's time.