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Energy FC and Atlanta United 2 Battle to 2-2 Draw

By Tyler Vaughn, 05/16/21, 7:00PM CDT

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OKC went ahead twice, through Villyan Bijev and Mitch Osmond’s first goals of the season, but Atlanta was able to claw back two goals of their own to steal a point Sunday night at Taft Stadium.

After a slow start to the match, with neither side creating any chances of merit, the Greens poured on the pressure in the final 15 minutes of the half. Mitch Osmond’s headed goal was ruled out for a foul in the buildup in the 33rd minute, but the Greens took the lead just four minutes later.

Arun Basuljevic delivered a dangerous, in-swinging corner kick that was knocked down in the penalty area, and Villyan Bijev reacted the quickest to calmly slot the ball into the back of the net. Unfortunately, Bijev was on the wrong end of a slide tackle on the attempt, and he was forced to exit the match early with an injury.

Atlanta equalized in the 56th minute after being awarded a penalty. Conor Donovan tripped up Darwin Matheus in the box, and Matias Benitez needed a generous rebound, after CJ Cochran saved the initial attempt, to level the score.

The Greens retook the lead in the 65th minute from another set piece. This time, Tucker Stephenson’s free kick skipped off the head of Jon Brown and found its way to Mitch Osmond, who was able to convert with an overhead kick from close range.

The visitors stole a point in the 89th minute after a long ball into the box fell right into the path of Tyler Wolff, who smashed his first-time effort past Cochran.

Energy FC will have 10 days off before traveling to take on Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. The Greens are back at Taft Stadium on Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. against Memphis 901 FC, and tickets can be found at energyfc.com/may29.

Scoring Summary:

OKC: Bijev, 36’

ATL: Benitez, 56’

OKC: Osmond, 65’

ATL: Wolff, 89’

Disciplinary Summary:

ATL: McFadden, Yellow Card, 79’

OKC: Daniels, Yellow Card, 86’

OKC: Donovan, Yellow Card, 90’+1

OKC: Ward, Yellow Card, 90’+3

OKC Starting XI: GK: CJ Cochran; D: Sam Rogers, Conor Donovan (c), Mitch Osmond, Rob Coronado; M: Hiroki Kurimoto, Arun Basuljevic, Aidan Daniels; F: Kodai Iida (Charlie Ward, 71’), Jon Brown, Villyan Bijev (Tucker Stephenson, 37’)

Subs not used: Kyle Ihn, Sam Howard, Brad Dunwell, Pierre Groutchov, Mueng Sunday

ATL Starting XI: GK: Rocco Rios Novo; D: Caleb Wiley, Bradley Kamdem Kewo (c), Josh Bauer, Aiden McFadden; M: Chris Allan (Efrain Morales, 76’), Ajani Fortune (Brendan Lambe, 57’), Tyler Wolff; F: Darwin Matheus (Coleman Gannon, 60’), Matias Benitez, Connor Stanley

Subs not used: Vincente Reyes, Macky Diop