The 2s welcomed fans back to the Fifth-Third Bank Stadium Wednesday tonight in their first home match of 2021 and their first match-up with a red-hot FC Tulsa. The 2s felt confident after taking 4 points in two away matches against the OKC Energy but would need a fantastic match from their combination of MLS Reserves, loanees, draftees, and academy players to beat former-2s-captain Mo Jadama’s new team. This was the first time a Tulsa team had come to Atlanta since the Tulsa Roughnecks defeated the Atlanta Chiefs 5-0 in 1980.
Coach Tony Annan began the match with the same four players in the advanced portion of the line-up with River Plate loanee Mathias Benítez once again at the false-9 position, homegrown Josh Wolff nestled behind him at the 10, and Darwin Matheus and Connor Stanley filling the offensive flanks.