Atlanta United flipped a 2-0 halftime deficit to a hard-fought road point, playing Charlotte FC to a 2-2 on Wednesday evening at Bank of America Stadium behind goals from Elías Báez and Miguel Almiron.
The major headline came about an hour before the match: Emmanuel Latte Lath was scratched from the lineup amid discussions of a potential transfer. In his place was Fafa Picault, while Júnior Alonso found himself in the starting XI for his MLS debut.
Charlotte opened the night’s scoring in the 16th minute. Pep Biel sprung Liel Abada on a counter-attack, with Abada sliding it over to Archie Goodwin inside the penalty area as Atlanta tried to track back defensively. After Lucas Hoyos saved Goodwin’s initial shot, poor defending from Alonso led to Kerwin Vargas scoring on the rebound to make it 1-0.
In the 45th minute, Charlotte made it 2-0, and again Biel was involved. A failed clearance on a corner kick routine fell to the Spaniard on the right side of the box. His cross to the far post found Abada, who headed it past Hoyos to double the score.
Atlanta began its comeback in the 57th minute, however. Elías Báez’s header on a cross from Tómas Jacob sailed past Kristijan Kahlina as Charlotte’s lead shrank to 2-1.
Then, in the 76th minute, Atlanta tied the score. A well-worked team goal ended with Jacob’s cross deflecting off the foot of Tim Ream and into the path of Almirón, who struck it past Kahlina to make it 2-2.
Atlanta returns to action on Saturday at the New England Revolution, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Foxborough.
A draw that fees like a win. Could we please get a real one on Saturday though? I mean, the Revs are pretty good, so I would take a draw but still…