Atlanta United 2 held off a late fightback to beat New York City FC II 3-2 at home. Arif Kovac scored twice, putting his side 2-0 up before NYCFC II pulled one back, but Liam Butts restored the two-goal cushion and Camilo Ponce’s strike in the 88th minute set up a nervy finish.
Kovac opened the scoring in the 12th minute with an assist from Andrew Jardines, then doubled the lead in the 66th minute, Adrian Gill supplying the pass. Niccolò Vafiades halved the deficit for NYCFC II in the 70th minute, but Butts made it 3-1 in the 86th minute from Cameron Dunbar’s assist. Ponce replied immediately for the visitors, but Atlanta held on.
The home side were far more clinical: they created four big chances to NYCFC II’s one and registered 2.57 xG against 0.61, despite only 49% possession. Kovac’s brace was the decisive contribution. The match saw five yellow cards, including late bookings for Dunbar and James Donaldson.
