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GAMEDAY REPORT: Miami Wraps Up Season with Victory against Atlanta

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/04/20, 9:44PM EDT

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Second-half goals by Saydee, Velasquez allow hosts to pull away for 3-1 win

MIAMI – Miami FC capped its first season in the USL Championship with a 3-1 victory against Atlanta United 2 on Sunday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium as Prince Saydee was front and center in his side’s second victory of the week.

The game opened slowly, but it was jolted to life in the 13th minute as Atlanta took the lead thanks to Jackson Conway. A perfectly-directed ball over the top of the Miami back line from deep in his own half by Patrick Nielsen picked out the run of Conway to the top of the penalty area, and the forward lashed home a finish on the half-volley that left Miami goalkeeper Mark Pais with little chance to save.

Pais came up big for the hosts to keep it a one-goal game four minutes later as he quickly came off his line to smother a chance for Amir Bashti as he tried to get onto the end of a cross from the right. That proved key just over 10 minutes later as Miami’s Prince Saydee raced to try and win possession in the right side of the penalty area on a through-ball and was brought down by Atlanta goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard. Romario Williams stepped up to the spot and fired into the top-left corner to make it level at the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Saydee’s dangerousness was brought to the fore again. Picking up possession in the left channel he drove forward into the penalty area and fired home a shot to the top-right corner of the net to put Miami ahead. Atlanta almost hit back quickly as Bashti was left free at a free kick, but his header from Jack Gurr’s delivery from the top-right edge of the penalty area caromed hard off the turf and was tipped over the crossbar by Pais for a corner.

Miami almost added to its lead in the 65th minute as Harrison Heath fired a curling shot from the left side from 25 yards out that clipped the outside of the right post as he almost picked the top corner. Seven minutes later, meanwhile, Miami was awarded another penalty kick but this time Mo Thiaw’s shot was saved by Lundgaard.

In second-half stoppage time, however, Sebastian Velasquez put the game away for the hosts as Thiaw delivered a low cross from the right that was dummied by Miguel Gonzalez allowing Velasquez to control and finish into the right corner of the net.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Prince Saydee, Miami FC – Saydee earned Miami the penalty kick to level from the spot in the first half and then added an excellent goal of his own that proved to be the winner.

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