By SCM REPORTER
LIAM BUTTS was the name on everyone’s lips at the Turner Soccer Complex as Atlanta United II turned on the style to dismantle a shell-shocked Huntsville City 4-1.
In a match that started with a scare for the home side, it was Butts who proved to be the ultimate predator, netting twice to lead a second-half onslaught that left the visitors looking like they’d forgotten their way back to Alabama.
Huntsville actually dared to dream early on. In the 14th minute, Leo Christiano silenced the Georgia crowd with a peach of a strike. Recouping a deflected ball at the edge of the area, the captain unleashed a curling, right-footed effort that gave Atlanta keeper Jonathan Ransom no prayer.
But if Huntsville thought they were in for a comfortable Sunday stroll, they were dead wrong.
Atlanta’s response was swift and clinical. On 26 minutes, Adrian Gill showed some proper flair, dinking the ball over his marker before squaring it for Cameron Dunbar. The winger’s touch found Butts, who couldn’t miss from point-blank range to level the scores.
After the break, the “Five Stripes” went through the gears. Luke Brennan—who had already seen one effort chalked off—finally got his rewards in the 57th minute. He picked up the ball outside the area, shifted his weight, and lashed a thunderbolt past Will Mackay to make it 2-1.
Five minutes later, it was game over. Dunbar, ever the provider, notched his second assist of the afternoon, sliding a perfect cross to the back post for Butts to tap home his second of the match and his 20th career MLS NEXT Pro goal.
As Huntsville pushed forward in a desperate bid to save face, they were caught cold on the break. In the 86th minute, the powerful Arif Kovac spearheaded a counter-attack, feeding Enzo Dovlo. The young striker kept his cool, slotting the ball into the corner to put the cherry on top of a dominant Atlanta performance.
Huntsville return home to face Chattanooga next week with plenty of soul-searching to do, while Atlanta looks like a side ready to mix it with the big boys.
