Goals from Elias Baez and Miguel Almiron helped visiting Atlanta United overcome a two-goal deficit against Charlotte FC to secure a come-from-behind 2-2 draw.
Atlanta United (3-10-3, 12 points) lost their last two games and remain five games removed from their last victory. However, the come-from-behind draw could keep their postseason hopes alive as they look to reverse their poor form.
Charlotte (6-6-4, 22 points), playing in its first game since May 23, outshot Atlanta 23-12 but struggled to guide its attempts on target and convert favorable opportunities.
Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina logged four saves, while Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos made eight.
Charlotte opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a blitzing counter-attack, fueled by Pep Biel’s cutting through-ball through the midfield to set Liel Abada up for a two-on-one. Abada played the ball to Archie Goodwin, whose attempt was deflected by Hoyos. However, Kerwin Vargas collected the rebound with a touch over a defender and powered the rebound into the top corner with a half-volley. Vargas’ strike marked his third goal of the season.
Abada doubled Charlotte’s lead just before halftime. Biel’s floated cross found Abada at the back post before Hoyos could get to it, and he calmly headed it in for his first goal of the league campaign.
Atlanta had its fair share of chances but couldn’t finish off its opportunities to even up the scoreline in the first half. Almiron couldn’t convert a one-on-one opportunity with Kahlina after beating defender Will Cleary to a through-ball, and Aleksey Miranchuk saw his point-blank effort similarly parried away.
Atlanta struck back in the 57th minute when Baez headed in Tomas Jacob’s lofted cross. Baez’s driven header from the center of the box bounced past Kahlina’s gloves and into the back of the net. His goal was his first in an Atlanta United uniform.
The Five Stripes began to surge offensively after Baez’s goal, forcing some impressive saves from Kahlina before Almiron finally equalized in the 76th minute. After Tim Ream deflected a header inside the box, Almiron got to the ball first and slotted a driven attempt past Kahlina for his first goal of the season.
Despite searching for an equalizer, Charlotte’s efforts were too little, too late as Atlanta hunkered down defensively to secure the draw.
