May 16, 2018 USL Toronto FC II--Atlanta United 2 vs Toronto FC II game review (from uslsoccer.com)

    
Goalfest Sees ATL UTD 2 Down TFC II
By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 05/16/18, 9:15PM EDT 

Two stunning Ambrose free kicks help Atlanta win nine-goal thriller

GWINNETT, Ga. – Fans were treated to a nine-goal thriller at Coolray Field on Wednesday night as ATL UTD 2 
claimed a 5-4 win against Toronto FC II. It took only five minutes for Atlanta to open the scoring as Mikey Ambrose 
stepped up and hit a free kick curling it to the near post out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Toronto equalized 
thanks to a perfectly played cross from Aidan Daniels, finding former USMNT U17 forward Ayo Akinola who was able 
to bundle it home from close range, scoring his first goal for the club since 2016. The goals continued 
in the 27th minute with a stunning volley from ATL UTD 2 forward Romario Williams, who finished a strong passage 
of possession and passing from the hosts. Ambrose repeated his free kick exploits in the 40th minute from 
a similar position to his first as he lifted it over the wall into the back of the net. A push allowed Daniels 
an opportunity to step up to the penalty spot just four minutes later as the Toronto captain put it down the middle 
to pull a goal back in the late stages of the first half, and TFCII leveled  three minutes into the second half 
as Akinola cut the ball square for Luca Uccello, who was able to pass the ball into the back of the net. But that 
equalizer only lasted two minutes as the hosts got back in front when Williams managed a perfect ball for Jon Gallagher, 
who chested the ball down and then hit a half-volley across the face of goal into the right corner for Atlanta’s fourth. 
Toronto leveled again as a through-ball by Akinola released Uccello again, and after seeing his initial shot saved 
the rebound fell favorably, allowing the former Canada U20 international to slot home from a tight angle. But the 
slightest of touches from ATL UTD 2 midfielder Brandon Vazquez was able to redirect Jose Carranza’s shot just far 
enough to beat the goalkeeper and restore the lead for the hosts with 10 minutes to go for what proved to be the winner 
as the sides equaled the highest-scoring game in the USL this season.

Scoring
5’ – ATL - Mikey Ambrose
17’ – TOR – Ayo Akinola (Aidan Daniels)
27’ – ATL – Romario Williams (Jon Gallagher)
40’  - ATL – Mikey Ambrose
44’ – TOR – Aidan Daniels (penalty)
48’ – TOR – Luca Uccello (Ayo Akinola)
50’ – ATL – Jon Gallagher (Romario Williams)
61’ – TOR – Luca Uccello
80’ – ATL – Brandon Vazquez (Jose Carranza)

#ATLvTOR: Highlights and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

1. Both teams came into this match on long winless runs, with both offenses struggling to produce goals 
in recent matches. In this match both offenses came alive as they combined for nine goals, tied for the most 
in a USL match this season. With both teams scoring their highest single-match goal totals for the year, 
the attacking players within each group could take some solid confidence moving forward, but the work needed 
to be done defensively is also clear for both.

2. Having only scored one USL goal prior to this match Atlanta’s Mikey Ambrose came alive, surpassing his 
personal career tally with two stunning free kicks. Having such a threat on set pieces will serve Atlanta 
well going forward, with both of Ambrose’s free kicks completely unstoppable for any goalkeeper.

3. Toronto FC II had only scored three goals all season coming into this match, and in 90 minutes managed 
to more than double its 2018 as Homegrown signing Ayo Akinola came to the fore with a goal and assist. 
Despite that the Canadians still cannot find the win they so desperately need with the side now winless 
in nine matches. TFC II has lost every road match it has played this year and with three of its next four 
away from home that trend needs to change quickly.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Mikey Ambrose, ATL UTD 2 – Scoring two stunning free kicks was only the beginning of a strong performance 
from Ambrose, who also managed to create one chance for his teammates and finished with a passing accuracy 
rate of 87.5 percent.

Upcoming Games:
ATL UTD 2 at Louisville City FC – May 19, 7:30 p.m. ET, Louisville Slugger Field
Toronto FC II at Charlotte Independence – May 19, 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsplex at Matthews  

4-2-3-1                    4-2-3-1
Atlanta United 2           Toronto FC II  
5                          4    

May 16, 2018 7:00 PM 
Referee Jon Freemon    Venue Coolray Field    Attendance 2,061 
 
Atlanta United 2
27 Hildebrandt         GK
28 Wheeler-Omiunu      DF
22 Ambrose             DF  5' GOAL, 40' GOAL, 62' subbed out   
 6 Kendall-Moullin     DF   
39 Crain               DF    
 4 Metcalf (C)         MF      
19 Vázquez             MF  80' GOAL  
29 Shannon             MF  31' Yellow  
11 Kissiedou           MF  69' subbed out  
26 Gallagher           MF  50' GOAL, 81' subbed out  
 9 Williams            FW  27' GOAL, 76' Yellow card  

Substitutes
 1 Christensen
35 Edwards 
13 Hernández                62' subbed in   
15 Nicklaw   
31 Carranza                 69' subbed in  
23 Kunga                    81' subbed in  
18 Sandoval                 

Manager Donnelly

Toronto FC II               
70 Catalano             GK   
36 Kübel                DF  90+6' Yellow card  
77 Onkony               DF  56' Yellow card      
52 Dunn-Johnson         DF  87' Yellow card    
49 Boskovic             DF  39' Yellow card  
37 Waja                 MF  45' subbed out  
39 Petrasso             MF  58' subbed out  
59 Okello Ayo           MF     
45 Uccello              MF  32' Yellow card, 48' GOAL, 61' GOAL    
55 Daniels (C)          MF  44' GOAL (penalty kick)    
20 Akinola              FW  17' GOAL, 78' subbed out  

Substitutes
40 Drew Shepherd                
38 Bjornethun       
61 Romeo               
48 Campbell                 78' subbed in  
58 Faria            
56 Johnson                  58' subbed in  
50 Srbely                   45' subbed in  

Manager Guyot 
 
 
Atlanta United 2                   Toronto FC II   
 59.1%    Possession                40.9%                   
 45.8%    Duels success rate        54.2%
 70.0%    Aerial duels won          30.0%   
 14       Interceptions             18     
  4       Offsides                   0      
  5       Corners                    1      
516       Passes                   358     
 69       Long passes               56     
 82.8%    Passing accuracy          72.1%   
 67.2%    Passing acc in opp half   62.0%   
 18       Crosses                    9     
 38.9%    Crossing accuracy         44.4%    
  5       Goals                      4     
 18       Shots                     13
  7       Shots on target            7
  4       Blocked shots              2    
  7       Shots outside the box      3     
 11       Shots inside the box      10     
 38.9%    Shooting accuracy         53.8%      
  8       Tackles                   26    
 37.5%    Tackles success rate      76.9%    
 11       Clearances                22       
 11       Fouls conceded            16     
  2       Yellow cards               5      
  0       Red cards                  0     

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