Carolina Challenge Cup: Day One Recap

Standings PTS GD GF GA

Charleston Battery 1 0 1 1

Seattle Sounders 1 0 1 1

Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew

There was certainly a lot to break down in the opening match of the Carolina Challenge Cup. To wrap things up in a nice bow, Atlanta United started the match with plenty of purpose. Quick, precise passing led to a diving header goal by Josef Martinez off a Hector Villalba cross in the 6th minute.

However, the turning point of the match came in the 58th minute when Atlanta keeper Alec Kann’s attempted clearance deflected off of Crew’s Federico Higuain into the back of the net. United’s backline showcased their inexperience with one another only four minutes later, as a simple cross into the…