Skip to content
Union
Link copied to clipboard

Union get 1-1 tie in Atlanta, Medford’s Brenden Aaronson scores first career goal

Ezequiel Barco came on in the 67th minute and scored three minutes later to help Atlanta United tie the Philadelphia Union 1-1

Alejandro Bedoya embraces Brenden Aaronson as Union players celebrate with the 18-year-old Medford native after he scored his first goal for the team.
Alejandro Bedoya embraces Brenden Aaronson as Union players celebrate with the 18-year-old Medford native after he scored his first goal for the team.Read moreCurtis Compton / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
    by The Associated Press, The Associated Press
    Published 

ATLANTA (AP) — Medford native Brenden Aaronson, Brenden Aaronson, an 18-year-old homegrown making his MLS debut, scored his first goal for the Union in a 1-1 tie at Atlanta United on Sunday night.

Aaronson ripped a right-footer that, as it went through the legs of Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, deflected off the defender’s leg past goalkeeper Brad Guzan to give Philadelphia (0-3-0) the lead in the 47th minute.

Ezequiel Barco came on in the 67th minute and scored three minutes later to the tie the game.

Defending champion Atlanta (0-1-2) used a series of quick passes to move to ball from the left to the right side where Julian Gressel first-timed a high entry and Barco side-netted a header inside the far post.

Atlanta had 71.4-percent possession — finishing with 669 passes compared to just 267 by the Union — but came up empty on a handful of chances. Josef Martinez, who set an MLS record with 31 goals last season, missed wide left on a shot early in the second half and later had his bicycle shot stopped by goalkeeper Andre Blake.

Staff writer Jonathan Tannenwald contributed to this report.