MLS
Charlotte FC 0-3 Atlanta United | Match summary & report | MLS | Caleb Wiley goals and assist
Atlanta put 3 unanswered goals past Charlotte in MLS, with Caleb Wiley the breakout star.
The Bank of America stadium stood in silence. Young sensation Caleb Wiley scored twice and got one assist as Charlotte FC were put to the sword by a rampant Atlanta United in MLS. A flurry of first half goals made sure that the away side left with the points and their place at the top of the league table.
The first goal came after just five minutes of play, when Atlanta’s high press meant they stole the ball in the opposition half immediately worked it forward. The Charlotte defence scrambled back but they did not catch the run of Wiley, who burned down the middle of the pitch and collected the ball from Almada before smashing it past the goalkeeper with his left foot.
His assist came minutes later when play opened up on the right side. Wiley, coming inside from the left, spun a beautiful pass with the outside of his foot that the flat-footed defender could not reach. The ball landed at Araujo, who skipped onto his left boot before unleashing a low drive into the near corner.
Wiley’s day got even better before the break, as a great dummy from Almada left Wiley free on the left as the ball was played across goal. The 18-year-old did not hesitate under the pressure and cooly slipped the ball underneath Sisniega as the goalkeeper attempted to rush out and halt the danger. Almada made the goal in truth: he was given too much time and space to drive forward from deep and dictate the play; Charlotte FC paid the price.
Atlanta sit top of the league
The strong first half performance allowed Atlanta United to take their foot off the gas in the second half and cruise to a victory that sees them go above Inter Miami at the top of the division. They have 2 wins and a draw from their first 3 games and will be looking to continue this rich vein of form as the season carries on. As for Charlotte, that is their third consecutive loss since the season began, and they have scored just 1 goal. Things need to turn around quickly for them if they don’t want to drift away from the rest of the point-scoring pack.
And as for Caleb Wiley, the homegrown player, he is one to keep an eye on.
- 23 Pablo Sisniega
- 14 Nathan Byrne (67')
- 13 Brandt Bronico
- 6 Tuiloma
- 29 Adilson Malanda
- 8 Ashley Westwood
- 16 Andre Shinyashiki (66')
- 7 Jozwiak
- 11 Swiderski (81')
- 20 Derrick Jones
- 9 Enzo Copetti
- Substitutes
- 17 Orrin McKinze Gaines II
- 18 Kerwin Vargas (66')
- 25 Afful (67')
- 24 Jaylin Lindsay
- 19 Christopher Hegardt
- 77 Nuno Santos (81')
- 28 Joseph Mora
- 31 George Marks
- 15 Benjamin Bender
- 1 Guzan
- 15 Andrew Gutman
- 12 Miles Robinson
- 22 Juan Sánchez
- 11 Brook Lennon
- 10 Luiz Araujo (92')
- 14 Franco Ibarra
- 13 Amar Sejdic (69')
- 23 Thiago Almada
- 26 Caleb Wiley x2(69')
- 19 Miguel Berry (58')
- Substitutes
- 2 Ronald Hernández
- 4 Luis Abram
- 7 Georgios Giakoumakis (58')
- 30 Machop Chol
- 5 Santiago Sosa (69')
- 18 Derrick Etienne (69')
- 28 Tyler Wolff
- 31 Quentin Westberg
- 35 Ajani Fortune (92')
Substitutions
Giorgos Giakoumakis (58', Miguel Berry), Kerwin Vargas (66', Andre Shinyashiki), Harrison Afful (67', Nathan Byrne), Derrick Etienne (69', Caleb Wiley), Santiago Sosa (69', Amar Sejdic), Nuno Santos (81', Karol Swiderski), Ajani Fortune (92', Luiz Araújo)
Goals
0-1, 4': Caleb Wiley, 0-2, 11': Luiz Araujo, 0-3, 46': Caleb Wiley
Cards
Referee: Ismail Elfath
VAR Referee: Drew Fischer, Craig Lowry
Miguel Berry (25',Yellow) Amar Sejdic (34',Yellow) Caleb Wiley (68',Yellow) Juan Sánchez (84',Yellow) Enzo Copetti (89',Yellow)
