Final Whistle: Atlanta United 2 Open 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Season with Draw at New England | The 2's Kick Off 2026 In The Cold
- Jon Nelson
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
In his season opening interview with SDH's Maddie Crews, Atlanta United 2 Head Coach Jose Silva was asked about what the personality for the 2's should be in the new MLS NEXT PRO Season...
"We want to dominate in opening half," Silva told Maddie at the time. "Is this possible? And when we lose the ball, we want to win as soon as possible so when people go... to say into words... they can feel something about us."
The 2's certainly did that in the season opener at Beirne Stadium where temperature at kickoff in the northwest suburbs of Providence, Rhode Island- the 2026 home for all but one New England Revolution II matches in the '26 season- was 23 degrees with a wind chill of 15- if the shoveled snow drifts just outside the playing surface could tell you anything else for hints.
The 2's had a starting line up Jono Ransom in net with a backline of Seyi Fakiyesi, Daniel Chica, Matthew Senanou, and Ilan Ettinger. The midfield had DD Sibrian and Adyn Torres supporting the back with Cameron Dunbar, Santi Pita, and Enzo Dovlo in the attack with home town striker Liam Butts up top. For Butts, it was the piece of irony that his first match with the 2's would be against his old club- his new club hoping for a repeat of 2025 stats in his new uniform in 2026.
The 2's had control of the first quarter of the match- pressure on the Revs backline coming from Butts (who had an early shot saved by Revs keeper Donovan Parisian in the 10th minute), Pita, Dunbar, and even Fakiyesi with a slaloming run in the 15th.
Parisian almost gave the 2's a lead with his help as a ball passed back to him was mishandled, trickling behind him heading for the far post. But the ball would just glance the outside of the post at an agonizingly slow pace to keep the match goalless.
Atlanta United 2 would break through on the scoreboard a few minutes later. A tremendous long ball from Santiago Pita would land the attack inside the 18 from the left. Cameron Dunbar would eventually fire a shot toward net- saved by Revs keeper Donovan Parisian, popped up into the air by Schinieder Mimy, off the head of Liam Butts, off the underside of the crossbar, and dribbling off Mimy for the own goal in the 24th and the 1-0 advantage for Atlanta United 2.
After the goal, momentum would switch back to the home team for most of the rest of the first half. Daniel Senanou showing calm at the back on one Revs rush in particular and jumping into the play four minutes later in transition.
Jono Ransom came up big in the first 45 with three saves- the biggest coming in the 41st minute guarding the near post on a rush up the attacking right by the Revs. The ensuing corner was defended by his backline and the intermission would come with the lead in tact.
Much like the end of the first 45, the Revs had most of the pressure offensively in the second 45- Ransom coming up big with a punch clearance for a save off a Jayden Da header.
The Revs, possessing the ball up to 78-percent of the time in the second half, finally equalized in the 70th minute as Myles Morgan was the benefactor of a cross from Cristiano Oliviera.
Ransom would be called upon, officially, three more times in the second half- the biggest moment coming in the 78th with a kick save at full extension as the Revs rushed up the attacking left- preserving the 1-1 tie through the end of regulation.
In MLS NEXT PRO, if there is a tie after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout decides who leaves the venue with an extra point on the night.
In penalties, the Revs would convert their first four kicks to get the extra point.
Head coach Jose Silva and the staff started a line-up with the average age of 19.9 that included on the night two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and three 18-year-olds that looked right at home as laid out by Atlanta United 2.
Young Back Line Delivers Defensive Shift
The back four, especially, racked up a lot of different columns of work on the night:
Matthew Senanou was credited with 14 defensive contributions-
11 clearances, 3 blocks, 6 recoveries, and winning 2 duels
Daniel Chica wrapped with 12 contributions- including 9 clearances and winning 4 duels on the night
Seyi Fakiyesi finished with 12 contributions- 9 clears, 6 recoveries, and 3 duels
And Ilan Ettinger registered in six different categories- winning 5 of 12 duels
Total shots on the night were 21-8 in favor of the Revs who had possession by a margin of 2-to-1 over 90 minutes. But, the 2's have a lot of positives to take from the outing- ranging from combinations in the attack that made it difficult for New England in the first 45 to stout defending at the back and Jono Ransom (who garnered "Player of the Match" honors from some monitoring services of MLS NEXT PRO) between the sticks on a difficult night to function in Rhode Island.
Next up for the 2's is the home opener against Carolina Core next Sunday on the University of Georgia campus in Athens at the Turner Soccer Complex- kickoff a little after 7:00. Pregame on the SDH Network is set for 6:30pm Eastern.
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