MARIETTA, Ga. (July 26, 2026) – Atlanta United 2 earned a 3-2 win against New York City FC II on Sunday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta. Arif Kovac re-established himself as the MLS NEXT Pro goal contributions leader with a brace as ATL UTD 2 reached 10 wins in a season for the first time in team history.
In the 12th minute of the match, Atlanta opened the scoring with its first goal at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground this season. Enzo Dovlo, dribbling on the right wing and drawing in two defenders, picked out Andrew Jardines in the half-space just outside of the box. Jardines, seeing Kovac marked by just one defender at the back post, lofted a cross to him. Using his strength to get behind and hold off his marker, Kovac met the cross in the air with his right foot, guiding it into the top left corner of the net for his 14th goal.
The next big chance of the match came in the first minute of stoppage time. Kovac, who had dribbled around New York center back Joseph Suchecki in the box, took a left-footed shot from close range. However, it dragged inches wide of the right post, and Atlanta entered the half with its 1-0 advantage.
The first half reflected a controlled performance from Atlanta as it out-shot its opponent eight to one and prevented a first-half shot on target for the second consecutive match.
In the 66th minute, Atlanta doubled its lead. Jardines, carrying the ball deep into the New York defensive third, dribbled past two defenders before laying off a lateral pass to Adrian Gill just outside of the box. Seeing Kovac making a run, Gill slipped a line-breaking ball in behind that Kovac ran on to. Finishing powerfully into the bottom left corner of the net with his right foot, Kovac scored his 15th goal of the season and re-established his MLSNP goal contributions lead with 18.
A defensive mistake saw New York pull a goal back in the 70th minute. Gill, attempting to quickly play a first-time pass to Mohamed Cisset, misplaced the ball straight into the path of New York midfielder Niccolo Vafiades, who was then alone behind the defense. With James Donaldson at the top of his box, Vafiades took an early shot to the near post that Donaldson got a hand to, but the contact wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of the net as the Atlanta lead was halved.
Liam Butts restored Atlanta’s two-goal cushion in the 86th minute. Playing a ball to Cameron Dunbar on the left side, Butts moved into the center of the box as Dunbar dribbled inside. Once Butts was in position, Dunbar played the ball back to him, and Butts only needed a glance off his left knee to beat the keeper and make it 3-1.
New York once again fought its way back into the game with a goal just two minutes later. Forward James Bilden picked out right back Jonathan Lopez, who had made his way into an attacking position on the right side. Searching for bodies in the box, Lopez leaned back as he lofted a cross to the back post where Juan Ponce was standing alone. With a long arcing header, Ponce lifted the ball over a diving Donaldson and into the bottom right corner of the net to leave Atlanta with a one-goal advantage going into stoppage time.
Despite facing three shots and three corners in the final seven minutes of stoppage time, Atlanta was able to hold on to its lead to secure the first win at its new home venue in 2026.
Atlanta United 2 (10-6-3, 33 points) returns to action Friday, July 31, when it takes on Carolina Core FC at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground (4 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball App, Soccer Down Here).
