KENNESAW, Ga. – Atlanta United 2 notched its first victory in its history against Louisville City FC as a first-half goal by Aiden McFadden and a late penalty kick save by Alec Kann for the hosts proved the difference in a 1-0 on Sunday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Making his first start for LouCity, Kyle Greig got an early effort in on goal in the third minute that was comfortably saved by Kann. From there the game began to even out until the 20th minute, when LouCity's Corben Bone slipped past a defender to move into the attacking third and delivered a pass to Antoine Hoppenot that the veteran put on target but saw Kann tip over the crossbar.

Instead, Atlanta took the lead on its first big chance of the game in the 26th minute as Caleb Wiley received possession on the left flank and delivered a curling cross to the back post where McFadden stole in to catch a finish on the half-volley that squeezed just inside the right post for his fifth goal of the season.

The hosts went close again four minutes later as Matias Benitez found Connor Stanley in the left side of the penalty area, and after shaking a defender to get the ball onto his left foot the Manchester United U-23s loanee fired a low shot that Hubbard got enough of to keep out. LouCity’s Niall McCabe had a long-range effort from 30 yards that went just wide of the right post, but the hosts went into the halftime break ahead.

Hoppenot had another chance to strike six minutes into the second half as after delivering a cross into the penalty area he followed up and picked up possession after Atlanta’s half-clearance was recycled by the visitors. The ball came back to Hoppenot, who shot low to the right corner, but Kann got down well to save. Greig then fired a snap-shot from 15 yards that Kann also denied on the hour-mark as the visitors began to increase the pressure looking for an equalizer.

That pressure almost told with 19 minutes to go as first Atlanta defender Josh Bauer blocked a shot by Paolo DelPiccolo from just inside the top of the penalty area that began a sequence that saw Wesley Charpie have an effort blocked from the left side of the penalty area, which sent the ball to Greig, whose low ball back into the six-yard area took a deflection off an Atlanta defender before being cleared off the goal line by McFadden to keep the hosts ahead.

With 10 minutes to go, however, LouCity was awarded a chance to level from the penalty spot as a deflected cross from the left sat up for Charpie to attempt a bicycle kick that was blocked by the arm of Atlanta defender Ajani Fortune. McCabe stepped up to the spot, but his shot to the left was saved by Kann, with the visitors unable to capitalize on the rebound. Louisville threatened again with two minutes to go but Greig was unable to direct a header on target off a cross from the left. Bone then fired over the crossbar in stoppage time, but Atlanta held on to claim all three points and its third win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Alec Kann, Atlanta United – Kann’s late penalty kick save was the highlight of a seven-save shutout that preserved victory for the hosts in a historic win for the side.

Scoring Summary
ATL – Aiden McFadden (Caleb Wiley) 26’

Full Box Score