Own goal sinks Atlanta United in debut

The New York Red Bulls spoiled the debut of the expansion Atlanta United with a 2-1 win before 55,000 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday.

Atlanta was attempting to become just the fourth expansion team to win its MLS opener, and it led 1-0 before the Red Bulls struck twice in the second half.

Anton Walkes, who came on in the 81st minute for Atlanta, was credited with the decisive own goal. He was racing for a cross from New York’s Kemar Lawrence and knocked the ball into the net.

Daniel Royer got the Red Bulls even at 1-1 when he headed in a corner kick off the boot of Red Bulls captain Sacha Kljestan in the 76th minute.

All three of Royer’s shots in the match were on goal.

Yamil Asad scored in the 25th minute for Atlanta, taking a long cross from Tyrone Mears from the right flank just outside the penalty area and making a diving one-timer from the near post.

Asad, 22, is on a season-long loan from Velez Sarsfield in his native Argentina. He had spent his entire career with Velez, making 55 appearances while scoring four goals since debuting in 2012.

Atlanta keeper Alec Kann recorded four saves, and New York’s Luis Robles stopped three shots.

The Red Bulls managed just two shots, none on target, in the first half.

Royer had a scoring chance in the 51st minute, but his right-footed shot from outside the box was saved by Kahn in the bottom right corner.

Josef Martinez led Atlanta with six shots. New York’s Bradley Wright-Philips, the league’s Golden Boot winner the past two seasons, was limited to only two shots, neither of which was on target.

Atlanta plays at Minnesota United on March 12 in a battle of first-year expansion clubs. The Red Bulls play host to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday