Atlanta United Falls 2-0 to Charlotte FC on the Road

Atlanta United suffered its first defeat of the season, falling 2-0 to Charlotte FC on Saturday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. After a scoreless first half, two quick goals early in the second half propelled the hosts to victory. Despite the loss, a bright spot for Atlanta was the debut of academy product Dom Chong Qui, who became the third-youngest player in club history to appear in an MLS match.

First Half: Atlanta Creates Chances but Can’t Break Through

The opening 15 minutes saw a cautious approach from both sides, but Atlanta United carved out the game’s first real scoring opportunity in the 18th minute. Matt Edwards made a strong run down the right wing before delivering a low cross to Alexey Miranchuk at the top of the box. Miranchuk quickly laid the ball off to Miguel Almirón, whose near-post strike forced a solid save from Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

Charlotte responded with a few half-chances midway through the half, but Atlanta continued to threaten. In the 40th minute, Saba Lobjanidze dribbled past his defender and unleashed a shot that deflected into the path of Latte Lath. The striker struck a volley just wide of the far post, narrowly missing the opener. Almirón then tested Kahlina again before halftime, but the Charlotte goalkeeper was up to the challenge, keeping the match scoreless at the break.

Second Half: Charlotte Strikes Twice Early

Charlotte broke the deadlock in the 49th minute after a long ball from the backline sparked a broken play. Wilfried Zaha collected the ball at the top of the box and attempted a shot, only for it to be blocked by three Atlanta defenders. However, the rebound fell perfectly to Pep Biel, who calmly slotted the ball into the corner to give Charlotte a 1-0 lead.

Just five minutes later, Charlotte doubled its advantage off a quick counterattack. Following an Atlanta corner, Liel Abada sprinted down the right side and fired a shot from 11 yards out. Brad Guzan made the initial save, but the rebound fell straight to Zaha, who volleyed the ball into the net, making it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Atlanta Pushes Late but Can’t Break Through

Head coach Ronny Deila made four substitutions in the 73rd minute, bringing on Jamal Thiaré, Xande Silva, Edwin Mosquera, and Tristan Muyumba in search of an attacking spark. While Atlanta created a few late chances, Mosquera came closest with a dangerous effort that forced another good save from Kahlina. Charlotte’s defense held firm, securing the clean sheet and the victory.

What’s Next?

Atlanta United (1-1-0, 3 points) will look to bounce back next Saturday, March 8, when it hosts the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.