CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) — Teenage defender Caleb Wiley scored twice and assisted on another first-half goal as Atlanta United beat Charlotte FC 3-0 on Saturday.
Wiley, 18, who scored once last year in his rookie season with Atlanta United (2-0-1), found the net after five minutes to give his side the lead. Thiago Almada and Amar Sejdić helped him. Almada has five consecutive assists on goal since last season.
But their run ended seven minutes later when Wiley set up Brazilian Luiz Araujo for his first goal of the season. Wiley made it 3-0 in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
It was a sea change on the road for Atlanta United, who won just once in their last 16 away games last season and allowed multiple goals in 13 of those games.
Charlotte (0-3-0) lost a franchise-record four games dating back to last season. The team lost three in a row twice last year. Charlotte scored just one goal in their first two games despite having the most shots from inside the penalty area (17 out of 21 attempts).