Atlanta United 2 Goals: Conway 59' (PK), McFadden 67', Firmino 74', 84'
NYCFC II Goals: Myers 23', Arévalo 50'
Quick Read
NYCFC II fell to defeat on the road on Sunday evening against Atlanta United 2. A quiet first half burst into life when Matthew Myers put the Boys in Blue ahead in the 23rd minute. That lead was doubled early in the second half by Ronny Arévalo before Jackson Conway reduced NYCFC II’s advantage from the penalty spot. The hosts drew level ten minutes later through McFadden before a brace from Nick Firmino confirmed a 4-2 victory for Atlanta.
Match Recap
A testing trip to Georgia awaited Matt Pilkington’s side on Sunday, although they were forced to wait a little bit longer for their challenge following a weather delay.
Pilkington made four changes to the side that fell to Columbus Crew 2 last time out but maintained his front three for the game against Atlanta.
That paid dividends in the 23rd minute when Matthew Myers broke the deadlock.
The move began with a smart ball down the right-hand side that allowed Andrew Baiera to engage in a foot race.
After wriggling free from his defender he cut the ball back to the onrushing Myers, who calmly slotted it across the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner.
It was almost two seven minutes later when Ronny Arévalo produced a precise cross that found Jonathan Jiménez free inside the box, but the striker was unable to put his effort on target.
At the other end, Alexander Yagudayev did well to deny Alan Carleton’s effort from outside the box to keep NYCFC II’s lead intact.
The second period saw both sides exchange good chances to score inside the opening two minutes.
First, Jiménez produced a left-footed effort from the left side of the box that missed the target before Atlanta’s Jackson Conway headed wide from close range.
Keen to put some distance between themselves and Atlanta, NYCFC II struck next and it was Arévalo on target in the 50th minute.
The move started after Jiménez pounced on a loose ball in midfield and found his teammate on the right. Taking one touch to set himself, Arévalo then drove a low effort past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
An end-to-end game took another twist when Atlanta were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Baiera was adjudged to have fouled Jonatan Villal - Conway converting the eventual spot kick.
Nine minutes later, the scores were tied, as Aiden McFadden found the net with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
Pilkington would turn to his bench for the first time in the 76th minute, introducing Franco Di Ponzio and Julián Gomez for Jack Beer and Arévalo.
NYCFC II knew the next goal would be vital, and Piero Elias came close to securing it with a drive from distance that was well saved.
Instead, it would be the visitors that claimed the fifth goal of the contest in the 84th minute after Firmino collected a loose ball at the top of the box and curled it into the goal.
The midfielder would add a fourth for Atlanta ten minutes later. A corner kick eventually made its way to the midfielder on the left-hand side of the box and he fired it across goal and into the bottom right corner.
That would be enough for the hosts to hold on and secure a 4-2 win on the evening, handing them three points.
Match Highlights
How We Lined Up
What's Next
New York City Football Club II are back in action on Sunday, July 2 as they take on Philadelphia Union II. The Boys in Blue host the Union II at Belson Stadium in a 7:00pm ET kick-off.
Watch live on AppleTV and follow our official @NYCFCII Twitter page for updates.
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