Nick Firmino didn’t have a nameplate above his locker in Atlanta United’s home of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The team may want to get one ready.
Firmino, signed by the club to a Short-Term Agreement hours earlier, scored the tying goal in the 95th minute of a 2-2 draw against NYCFC on Wednesday to extend Atlanta United’s unbeaten streak to seven games.
The 22-year old wasn’t worried about his lack of signage. He also wasn’t concerned about the league rule that allows him to appear in a maximum of two MLS games on his current contract.
“Well, that’s not up to me,” Firmino said. “I’m just going to keep working every day, day by day, (and) things will fall into place.”
Manager Gonzalo Pineda complimented Firmino, saying he deserved to be with the first team, but that decisions about his future will be determined by Vice President Carlos Bocanegra.
Firmino isn’t a product of Atlanta United’s academy, but he was one of seven Homegrown signees or second-team players to play in Wednesday’s match. The Five Stripes started four Homegrown signees, a club record for an MLS game, and subbed in a fifth. Firmino was brought on with Luke Brennan, a fellow second-teamer who came through the academy and will be officially considered as a Homegrown next season.
Playing the youth wasn’t entirely Pineda’s choice. Atlanta United was without standouts Thiago Almada and Miles Robinson because of international duty. Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis was suspended because of yellow-card accumulation. In their place, the young guys stepped up admirably.
“Even though we were a young team, maybe inexperienced, six Homegrowns,” Pineda said, “... what we learned is that we’re ready to compete.”
Midfielder Ajani Fortune and right winger Caleb Wiley were two of the Homegrowns, maintaining their starting places from last week’s 3-1 win over D.C. United. Left winger Tyler Wolff and center back Noah Cobb, making his second MLS appearance, were new additions.
The best of the youth was on display early. In the 12th minute, Wolff had the ball on the right in the NYCFC third. He passed to Wiley, who let the ball run through his legs to Fortune. Fortune dribbled into the box and was knocked down, but managed to pass to Wolff, who continued his run. Wolff fired a shot into the far corner, tying the score at 1-1. The assist was the first of Fortune’s MLS career. It was Wolff’s fourth goal, more than all but Giokoumakis and Almada.
Wolff nearly had a second 15 minutes later, and again, it was a Homegrown combination. Wiley drove down the left wing on a counterattack, playing a dangerous ball across the 6-yard box. The goal was gaping, but Wolff saw the pass late and could not tap it in.
Atlanta United’s inexperience showed itself early in the second half. The ball fell to Fortune tracking back on an NYCFC counter, and he could not control it, inadvertently giving it to NYCFC’s Richard Ledezma. Ledezma passed quickly to Gabriel Pereira, who finished past Brad Guzan for a 2-1 lead.
It was unlucky, which can happen with so much youth on the field.
Fortune and Wolff, who was cramping, were subbed off soon after. In came Machop Chol, the fifth Homegrown to play. Chol nearly scored within seconds, firing just wide.
Atlanta United was still chasing a goal in the 87th, when Pineda brought on Firmino and Brennan. Eight minutes later, Firmino rescued the point with a header at the back post.
His debut was better than even he could have dreamed.
“Special moment,” Firmino said. “Making my debut here at home, especially. To get the goal was the cherry on top.”
Brennan was proud of his debut, but also of his teammate. He also set some added history, becoming the second ever Native American MLS player.
“It was amazing,” Brennan said. “At the Benz, of course, I wanted to make my debut here in front of all the fans. It was surreal to come on with Nick, a good friend of mine. Him scoring at the end was, like he said, a cherry on top.”
Cobb played the full 90 minutes. His first two matches for the Five Stripes ended in a 2-1 defeat in the Open Cup and a 6-1 thrashing against Columbus in league play, so the 17-year old was happy to have the point. He said he learned from his first two outings.
“I played the Columbus game and that didn’t go to plan,” he said. “So that’s always sitting in the back of your mind. I put in the work at the training ground and I just knew, when I got the opportunity next, that I would try to right that wrong.”
Each player talked postgame about what it meant to see fellow Homegrowns and young players succeed for Atlanta United. It’s a successful night for the club, even leaving without all three points.
Three of the four who started could get their next opportunity on Saturday against New York Red Bulls. Fortune will be with Trinidad and Tobago for the Gold Cup. Brennan and Firmino could also play on the last day of their four-day contracts.
Robinson, Giakoumakis and Almada all soon return. Opportunities will be harder to find for the Homegrowns. Regardless, Wednesday night’s draw was theirs, even if they wish they were ending it with more than a point.
The kids proved they were ready for Atlanta United, even if, for some, the locker room wasn’t ready for them.
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