Match Information:
MLS NEXT Pro: Matchday 9
Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium (Kennesaw, Georgia)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
SOCIAL TAGS:
Match-specific hashtag: #CCFCvATL2
Instagram: @carolinacore_fc
X: @atlutd2
Instagram: @atlutd2
Carolina Core FC record: 0-4-1 (2 points – 15th in East)
Atlanta United 2 record: 2-4-1 (8 points – 12th in East)
Carolina Core FC continues its inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season on the road Wednesday, May 8th, in a rematch against Atlanta United 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with a live stream available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Fans can also follow @CarolinaCore_FC on X for live updates throughout the match.
Carolina Core FC is entering the match off the back of a 2-0 loss to Chattanooga FC on Matchday 7 of MLS NEXT Pro.
CCFC conceded a goal seven minutes into the match by Chattanooga FC forward Jesus Ibarra. The winger scored a right footed shot to the bottom right corner of the goal, assisted by midfielder Callum Watson.
Despite recording nine shots, with four being on target, as the match went on, Chattanooga would find their second goal in the 75th minute of the game. Midfielder Milo Garvanian scored a right-footed shot to the top left corner of the goal, assisted by Taylor Gray.
The match between Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga marked a historic occasion, serving as the first game featuring two independent clubs in MLS NEXT Pro history. With both teams entering the league in 2024, Chattanooga and Carolina ended their historic matchup with a scoreline of 2-0 going to the home side. The two Southeast Division clubs will square off on two more occasions this season.
More history was made for CCFC that evening, as attacking midfielder Ozzie Cisneros made his first start for the club against fellow MLS NEXT Pro independent club Chattanooga FC. Following his debut off the bench for the Foxes on Monday night against Chicago Fire FC II, Cisneros registered one shot while completing 100 percent of his passes and one key pass into the attacking third in an eventual 2-0 loss to Chattanooga FC.
CCFC captain Jacob Evans led the team with another promising attacking display on Saturday night. Evans was at the forefront of the attack registering two shots, one of which was on target. The midfielder completed 88.5% of his passes on the night, recording 38 total passes.
Atlanta United 2
After missing out on the playoffs in 2023, having finished 10th in the East, Atlanta United 2 look to make a playoff run in Steven Cooke’s second year at the helm. The Sheffield, England-native began taking coaching courses when he was just 16 years old. By the age of 22, Cooke would receive his first coaching job at Sheffield Wednesday Academy, a club in the English Football League Championship. Cooke would go on to lead the Seattle Sounders U-17 team to victory in the Generation Adidas Cup Final and the MLS Next West division. Riding the success of that season, Cooke to went on to accept the head coaching role at Atlanta United 2.
With 2 wins, 4 losses and a draw, Atlanta United currently sit in 12th position in the Eastern Conference standings with 8 points.
ATL 2 enters the game on the back of a 0-0 draw with NYCFC last Friday. This brought about the team’s first penalty shootout of the season, which they won 4-2, giving them two points.
Midfielder Javier Armas leads the team with three goals in seven matches played. Luke Brennan and forward Karim Tmimi have two goals apiece, with Erik Centeno leading the team with two assists.
Carolina Core FC and Atlanta United 2 kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. These two sides met previously on matchday 2 of the MLS NEXT Pro season. Atlanta United 2 won the match 4-0 with goals from Luke Brennan, Javier Armas, and Karim Tmimi.
Fans can stream the match live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or come out to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to support Carolina Core FC away from home.
