Match #1 Results
Atlanta Arsenal 2 - Phoenix City 1
The 2020 MLS season resumed Wednesday night featuring Group A of the APL is Back Tournament, and Atlanta Arsenal downed Phoenix City 2-1 behind a star showing from Ignacio Garcia
The Designated Player secured all three points in the 97th minute, poking home after a cross fell to him from 10 yards out. It was an opportunistic finish that an onrushing Luis Veras couldn’t deter.
That capped a come-from-behind effort after Juan Rojas gave Phoenix the first goal with a close-range finish in the 47th minute. Rojas peeled to the back post and tapped home a low cross from Victor Martin after the latter combined with Matthew Bruhle in the 18-yard box.
Iggy’s first key moment arose in the 70th minute as Atlanta made it 1-1, equalizing via a back-post run from Chris Hayes. Arsenal winger was quickest to a driven cross from Iggy, who used a burst of speed to create from the left flank.
A scary moment arose in the 51st minute when Phoenix center back Roberto Berie went down after a clash with Atlanta striker Apollo Diaoconis. Berie needed to be stretchered off.
That incident prompted 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time, and ultimately resulted in Atlanta’s first win under head coach Edgar Martinez.
Goals
- 47' – PHX – Juan Rojas
- 70' – ATL – Chris Hayes
- 97' – ATL – Ignacio Garcia
Man of the Match presented by HeinekenIggy didn’t feature in Atlanta’s first two games of 2020 due to suspension, but the Mexican star picked up right where he left off in 2019. He provided a goal and assist for Arsenal, building off last year’s showing of 12 goals and 10 assists. DPs are paid to produce, and he’s doing exactly that.
Match #2 - Indianapolis Machine versus Gateway Athletic POSTPONED.
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