Atlanta United Shuts Out Birmingham As Learning Continues in 2025

Cayman Togashi Puts Atlanta United on The Scoreboard in Birmingham

(all photos- Madison Crews/@MadisonCrews7)

Atlanta United continued their 2025 preseason at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham Saturday afternoon with a match-up against the Legion from USL Championship shutting out Legion 2-0 in a preseason friendly that had 2 45-minute halves.

Head Coach Ronny Deila went with two separate elevens for the two 45 minutes. The first-first team had Josh Cohen in net with Ronald Hernandez, Luke Brennan, Efrain Morales, Noah Cobb, Will Reilly, Cayman Togashi, Jay Fortune, Ronan Wynne, Edwin Mosquera, and Bartosz Slisz (wearing the captain's arm band).

The Legion had a mix of Trialists and familiar faces- including Matt VanOekel, Phanuel Kavita, and Ronaldo Damus- in their first 45 minutes.

Early pressure from Atlanta United forced Legion turnovers, but nothing came of it in the first ten minutes. In the 13th minute, Slisz fouled Enzo Martinez and the subsequent set piece got in between the line of players rushing to the six and keeper Josh Cohen. But the first hop was wide of the far post and tracked over the end line.

One of the visual highlights came in the 18th with a bicycle kick by Ronald Hernandez that was right at VanOekel. Six minutes later, Legion committed a foul on the edge of the box on Edwin Mosquera. The Hernandez entry was found by Cayman Togashi for a header past VanOekel and a 1-0 lead. Togashi almost picked up a brace less than a minute later but the shot to the near post found the side netting.

Hernandez almost picked up another assist on an entry pass to Brennan but the offside flag came up and the score stayed 1-0.

Legion almost had an equalizer in the 36th as the ball was at Josh Cohen's feet near the goal line and pressure was coming. But Cohen dodged Ronaldo Damus- sending him the wrong way- and the chance was cleared.

Chances continued to come from pressure in the first 45. With 5 minutes to go, Luke Brennan and Togashi worked down the right and the cross from Togashi inside the 6 was too much for Mosquera to get to in time at the far post.

Looking at the first 45, the speed for United was on display down the wings and the decision-making was faster to get the ball either out of trouble or down quickly to spring the break. When the team lost possession, the attention was focused on gaining the ball back and otherwise making it difficult for Legion to get into any kind of offensive rhythm.

Ronald Hernandez was creating trouble for Atlanta United down the left and the front line was finding spaces to combine in the attacking third. Cayman Togashi, with his goal, continues to adjust to what Ronny Deila is looking for up top.

Will Reilly Was Part of a Younger XI For ATLUTD In Birmingham in The First 45

Your second 45 with Noah Cobb and Luke Brennan staying on: Guzan, Matt Edwards, Noah Cobb, Luis Abram, Dominic Chong Qui, Muyumba, Klich, Miranchuk, Saba, and Jamal Thiare taking on Legion up a goal.

DCQ had an early chance to make an impression with a clearance near the goal line in the 47th minute after a Legion rush down the left.

Ten minutes later, the combination play of Saba and Luke created a chance for Jamal. But the attempt was wide of the near post as United chased a second. And in the 58th, Saba played a cross off a quick corner that glanced off one head and surprised the chest of Jamal before the ball trickled over the end line.

The rushes down the right continued with Matt Edwards eventually finding Alexei Miranchuk in the 64th, but the poke with his left foot was blocked. The transition chance was almost there for Legion but Brad Guzan watched the shot trickle wide of the near post. Edwards kept his pressure with some help from Saba and created another chance for a corner. Mateusz Klich tried to volley a shot over the keeper on the subsequent play, but the margin stayed at 1-0.

With 20 minutes to go, Chong Qui pulled down Preston Tabort Etaka and the set piece from 25 went floating over the bar. DCQ picked up a yellow for his trouble.

A recycled set piece turned into a Jamal volley that was just wide of the far post with 15 minutes left. Legion had two chances that Guzan defended to keep them scoreless on the sheet.

But Atlanta would get the second goal they were looking for in the 81st minute as Tristan Muyumba chipped a cut back pass to Saba inside the 18 working down the left. Saba would send it inside the six and one of the Legion trialists sent it into the net for the 2-0 advantage.

In the 85th, Miranchuk launched a shot from 23 yards out that was sent over the crossbar by the third Legion keeper of the afternoon for a corner.

In the second 45, Dominic Chong Qui continues to impress at the left back spot and Atlanta United created opportunities all afternoon long with the counter pressure they were inflicting on the Legion players once they had possession. The passing ideas are there and the connections were developing over time- a week of practice helps form those relationships.

Atlanta United had 10 shots on the afternoon compared to the Legion's 6 and the United keepers had 2 saves on the afternoon with the Legion's six shots on goal in the 2-0 win.

Next up for Atlanta United is the week at IMG Academy for three more matches before returning to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on the 15th versus FC Dallas.