Mere hours after the conclusion of the match between Nashville SC and Atlanta United FC, their respective second teams will also be squaring off about 180 miles northwest of Atlanta in the Rocket City.
You’re prepared for Nashville-Atlanta, let us prepare you for Huntsville City FC vs Atlanta United 2.
The History
We’ll get this out of the way quickly, in five all-time meetings, Atlanta United 2 holds a three wins to two advantage over their counterparts from Alabama, with Atlanta also grabbing two of three last season, both in Huntsville.
Huntsville did win the most recent encounter however, a 6-3 drubbing in Kennesaw. In fact, the home team in this fixture has never won. There’s also a potential revenge game on the cards here, as former Atlanta United academy and 2s player Alan Carleton will for the first time play against his former club.
Lineup Prediction
Look, there’s been so much rotation in Huntsville lineups of late, I’m taking total shots in the dark here. I’m remotely confident in maybe five of these players being in the starting lineup, honestly.
Erik Lauta gets the start in goal simply because this club has literally run out of other goalkeepers to start. Four different goalkeepers in Huntsville’s last four games, and three total goals conceded is good! Lauta reclaims the sticks, for now.
In front of him, I think Jordan Knight gets the start at right back, though he’s probably on a pitch count so to speak to potentially save his legs for a possible Open Cup appearance? Maybe?
Joining him at the back is Wyatt Meyer, who almost certainly will play in the Open Cup, Zach Barrett, for now, and Blake Bowen.
Bowen is the captain, he’s not the question mark. It’s Barrett. There’s a number of centerbacks who could fill frankly either spot, but I think Meyer gets a run out. It could be Barrett, it could be Kevin Carmichael, it could be Kessy Coulibaly, there’s lots of options.
To be completely honest with you here I used a random number generator to pick which of the three to put in the lineup. That’s how close it is.
The midfield feels sort of set? Pep Casas seems locked in, but his partner could be one of a number of players. I’ve gone Ethan O’Brien here to fit Alan Carleton further forward, but O’Brien may be playing significant minutes in the Open Cup, as could Matthew Corcoran who started last game. Moises Véliz also could start here. Again, a lot of question marks.
Joining Carleton up front are three players I feel pretty good about, if only again on a pitch count. Gunnar Studenhofft seems to have “won” the number nine job, and Christian Koffi is as important as ever on the left wing. Damien Barker John has been important on the right as well, and the combination of he and Koffi is often deadly.
Analysis & Prediction
Much like their respective first teams, Atlanta 2 doesn’t enter this one on great form, while Huntsville has been practicing scorched earth on any team in front of them, averaging three goals a game over their last four.
I think Huntsville wins this game. Selfishly, for my sake I hope so, considering I’m making the ~120 mile drive to the Rocket City to attend this one in person. No, but seriously, Huntsville has looked like an upper-tier team in Next Pro this season, and in a league that’s as volatile as this, that’s often all you can bank on.
May the Force be with you on Star Wars night, Rocket Men.
Prediction: Huntsville City FC 3-1 Atlanta United 2, goals from Studenhofft, Koffi and Knight
Let us know if Lauta actually got to start in goal! I mean, he's getting less play time than if he had signed for an USL League One club.... And Nashville keeps sending down various academy kids to start in goal instead of Lauta!