CT United faced Atlanta United FC 2 in the club’s inaugural playoff match and the club was able to secure a 1-0 win
Head Coach Shavar Thomas made one change from the team's 7-2 victory over Inter Miami CF II on Decision Day. Gunther Rankenburg started in goal behind the backline of Andre Applewhaite, Lukas Kamrath, Justin Malou, and Rickson van Hees. Dylan Lacy, Steven Sserwadda, and Ernesto Gomez formed the midfield three behind the attacking trio of Alex Monis, Barnabas Tanyi, and Bryan Destin.
It was a dream start for Thomas and CT when Destin got on the ball on the right flank before cutting it centrally to Monis. Despite Atlanta intervening, Tanyi was alert and got onto the loose ball and, as he did 16 times in the regular season, Tanyi drilled it into the back of the net to give the road side an early 1-0 lead.
Things got nervy in the 21st minute when Enzo Dovlo broke down the right flank and cut inward before attempting a strike to the near-post that rattled the goalpost and back into play, meeting Cameron Dunbar, who had his follow-up effort blocked out of play.
Rankenburg came up big in the 30th minute when he stretched wide, making a save on Dunbar’s close-range free kick, keeping CT’s lead intact.
Concern arose in the 59th minute when defender Andre Applewhaite tried to clear the ball downfield but mishit the effort as the defender collapsed to the pitch and grabbed his left knee. Thankfully, Applewaite walked off the pitch under his own power.
Thomas went to the bench in the 62nd minute as Daniel D’Ippolito and Robbie Mora replaced Gomez and Destin. Two more changes came in the 69th minute as Neo Che and Warren Agostoni replaced Sserwadda and Applewhaite.
Gunther Rankenburg came up big in the 77th minute when miscommunication with the backline led the keeper to exit the box and stuck a foot in to dispossess Dunbar before he could lob the ball into the open net, keeping CT’s lead intact.
CT’s final change came in the 83rd minute as Caua Paixao replaced Tanyi.
After withstanding some good chances from Atlanta, the Coywolves booked their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinal after securing a 1-0 victory on the road in their first-ever playoff match.
