Looking Back: Atlanta United 2’s 2024 Season Recap…
As autumn brings the start of many sports seasons, MLS NEXT Pro wraps up its regular season in October. With the 2024 campaign complete, here’s a look at Atlanta United 2’s achievements throughout a busy year.
Season Performance
Atlanta United 2 finished the 2024 season with a 7-14-7 record, earning 32 points and securing 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings. This year marked the debut of the Southeast Division, which featured teams such as Crown Legacy FC, Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC, Inter Miami II, and Orlando City SC. It was head coach Steve Cooke’s second season in charge of the club.
### **Notable Matches**
The team had several memorable moments throughout the season:
– **First Clean Sheet:** On March 24, Atlanta secured a 4-0 victory over Carolina Core FC, marking their first clean sheet since June 2023.
– **Upsetting a Leader:** On April 24, they defeated Chattanooga FC 1-0, handing the league leaders a tough loss at home.
– **Road Success:** Atlanta notched two away victories against Huntsville City FC. The first came on May 18 in a 3-2 thriller, with goals from Javier Armas, Miles Hadley, and Karim Tmimi, and eight saves by goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert. In the second, on July 27, Rodrigo Neri scored twice in quick succession to seal a 2-1 win.
– **Winning Streak:** Atlanta achieved its first-ever three-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC II on August 23, followed by a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami II to extend their unbeaten run.
– **Thrilling Comeback:** On September 1, they came from behind to beat Chattanooga 4-3 in dramatic fashion, with Alan Carleton and Ashton Gordon leading the charge.
### **Standout Players**
Several players took significant strides during the season:
– **Javier Armas:** Armas made history by becoming the first Atlanta United 2 player to play every minute of a season, accumulating 2,520 minutes across 28 matches.
– **Alan Carleton:** Carleton debuted with Atlanta United’s First Team during the U.S. Open Cup and later scored twice in a 3-2 win over New England Revolution II.
– **Matt Edwards:** After starting in the Atlanta Academy and playing at UNC, Edwards signed a Homegrown deal in June and served as ATL UTD 2’s captain.
– **Ashton Gordon:** Gordon represented Jamaica in the Concacaf U-20 Championship and made his Atlanta United debut during the U.S. Open Cup.
– **Jayden Hibbert:** Hibbert set a club record with 89 saves and made 13 saves in a draw against Inter Miami II, the most in a single match for the club.
– **Kaiden Moore:** Moore signed a professional contract through 2025, with plans to become a Homegrown player in 2026.
– **Adyn Torres:** Selected for the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, Torres became the first player to complete the entire ATL UTD Player Development Pathway.
– **Cooper Sanchez:** Sanchez made history as the youngest debutant for Atlanta United at just 15 years and 27 days.
### **Focus on Development**
Player development remains a core focus for Atlanta United, with a strong connection between the academy and the first team. This season saw five homegrown players—Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Jay Fortune, Efrain Morales, and Tyler Wolff—make significant contributions across both ATL UTD 2 and the senior squad.
The 2024 season showcased Atlanta United 2’s commitment to growth, talent development, and building a competitive future.
