Well, here we are. It’s away to NYCFC week for Atlanta United. Seeing this match on the calendar brings back nothing but bad memories of disallowed goals, low camera angles, grassed over infields… and losing.
The Five Stripes have only ever won once on the road against New York City, and they did it when it counted in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. The overall head to head since that Cup run isn’t much better, though. Atlanta hasn’t beaten the Pigeons anywhere since August of 2019, if you can believe it.
However… Atlanta has never lost a game at Citi Field, right?
We’ll find out if they can buck the trend and take three points tonight, as 3-2-0 Atlanta United heads to the Big Apple to take on a struggling out of the gate New York City (1-4-1) at the Mets’ stadium for the first time. The Five Stripes are now without the services of Giorgos Giakoumakis (knee injury) and Xande Silva (adductor) this week, and still without Stian Gregersen as he recovers from meniscus surgery. Jamal Thiare was able to bag his first two goals for Atlanta as a sub last weekend, and he’ll be relied upon to help shore up the recent holes in the attack.
Kickoff in Queens is set for 7:30 PM ET, with actual kickoff approximately ten minutes later. As per usual, the match is available through Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which also has a month long free trial deal going on. Thanks, Messi. Radio coverage is provided in English on STAR 94.1 and in Spanish on La Mejor.
Before kickoff rolls around this evening, be sure to check out our match preview and predictions for any and everything match related, then jump back over and join us in our match thread below to discuss all the action from the ballpark.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
NYCFC’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Citi Field, Queens, New York
Kickoff Time: Saturday, April 6th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass subscription), Free Trial
Available Radio: STAR 94.1, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
Braves take a 9-8 lead in the 8th
If a tie is like kissing your sister, a loss is like tongue-kissing grandma with her teeth out.
I’ll take the tie.
h/t to Andy Van Slyke, former quote machine for the Pittsburgh Pirates, for that one.
Guzan MOTM. Kudos to Williams, Lobjanidze, Thiare, Mosquera. Not great marks for Almada, Wolff, Etienne.
In what world does Wolff get the start over Mosquera? Wolff, to me, should be on mop-up duty.
8-7 Snakes after 7 now.
if Muyumba didn’t tug the arm, it might have been a 1-0 win, but 1-1 tie is never bad on a road match
I’ll put more of the blame on a poor pass back by Wolff. Muyumba’s foul was a bit soft.
Yeah. That was a typical “forward feels contact so he goes down” move. Unfortunately Muyumba’s move did cause the forward’s shoulder to turn a bit and I think that’s what sold the flop to the ref. Honestly you have the exact same play happen in front of a different ref and it might not be called.
Radio pointing out that Williams is unable to run at this point.
Yeah they swapped him up to LF, because he was hobbling so much he would’ve been a liability on the backline. Hope he’s ok.
Well.. away point little.depleted I’ll take it
Guzan – man of the match by far. Wasn’t pretty tonight. We are lucky to walk away with a point.
Yep. He has proven me wrong so far. Thought Father Time had won again, but Brad has said “not yet.”
Also, who would’ve thought that Williams would be one of our crucial signings this offseason? This man is keep our defense organized and stout.
Was just thinking that.
Looks kinda like we’re playing for a draw. Which, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’d rather we play safe for a draw then give up one late.
I think we’re missing too many pieces up top, it’s probably the right call
Thiago is not built to lead a press lol
Etienne… had that been GG or Thiare, we’d be up 2-1. So frustrating.
My grandmother might have finished that one…
I don’t want to give that a thumbs up, but you are right.
No worries. She’s been passed away 15 years this November so She won’t know the difference
Looks like Almada has moved to the false 9 and EhTN to winger. not sure if we have a 10 anymore, or just two 8s and a 6.
I had to turn the game off for a bit, did Thiare get hurt?
I think just tired. he scored right before going off.
I think he took a knock or pulled something… he was slightly limping when he was subbed off at the 60+ min mark.
Not a fan of Fortune personally
what was EhTN aiming at with that header? he just needed to pop it off to the side.
He is awful
But he’s an international player he can’t be that bad can he???
I was so excited when we signed him, idk how he’s flopped so much
If you find out let me know….
Almada still struggling to find the magic. Looked like he was going to find it a couple times earlier, but he’s still off. I wonder if it’s just needing a break?
Our midfield is getting tired, they’re opening holes in front of our defense
good thing Fortune is coming on
Not having a 3rd string striker is killing us. Entinne is a net negative. It’d be better to have no one I think
Like I said…
Wow, amazing save by Guzan
Off Topic: Noticed Almiron isn’t playing much for Newcastle lately. Is he hurt or just in bad form?
Hurt. 2-3 games ago. Joining 60 other Newcastle players.
Anyone know where Rios is? Nothing on the availability report saying he was out, but also not on the bench.
great…. cross? shot? from EhTN (sarcasm)
Who is the 9 now?
no 9, unless Etienne plays 9
False 9 it is
Secondary assist to Guzan – 1st of his MLS career.
kind of concerning that Thiare was limping as he was subbed off
Beautiful.
It’s so freaking good to have more than one competent striker on the roster.
What a pass from Guz. What a cross from Mosq. Great finish from Thiare!!!
Finally – a counter-attack long ball!!!
I missed it, what just happened???
wow, way to bring it back despite the momentum change
Nice counter goal!!!!!
Holy shit
Does newyork team have the infinite energy? They’re all bearing down on goal and then outrun our passes to midfield. Idk how you overcome that
8-5 Snakes leading the Braves, for those interested.
So if we’re not good at airels against a high press team, and we’re not super fast, how else do you beat that? Just a bad matchup?
Better movement off the ball, more 1 touch passes, use of triangles, long crosses to switch the angle of attack, and over the top counter-attack. With a short field, away game, and missing our key striker, the odds are not in our favor.
Pineda made no ‘strategic changes’ at half that I can see. If we tie this up, it is probably going to be due to an individual stroke of brilliance. Not a recipe for sustainable success.
Well I mean they look threatening so something must have happened at halftime.
If by they, you mean NYFC, then I would agree.
Why is he arguing? That’s always a yellow to intentionally waste time
To waste more time
What is Wolff’s XG tonight?
Is the stat modified according to the player? /sarc
He’s getting close though. Might be the one to score for us tonight.
Idk, it is on the video game lol
Yeesh. Really missing Tank tonight. Not that Jamal is doing bad, just need Tank’s tenacity to get our boys back in it.
They turned off after that penalty. This is the time for Pineda to prove his mettle as a coach and get their heads back on straight.
Well they certainly look better this half
Again. Lennon totally alone at the box. Almada sends it twenty rows up in the stands.
He’s catching the Araujo virus.
Thiare is not moving into the right positions, no diagonal runs for a through ball, and he is too one dimensional. Almada is playing hero ball. If we score, I predict a Lennon/Saba combo that will do it. Pineda is gonna need to switch some things up at the half if he wants to go home with at least a point.
Why do I always feel like we are playing 10 v 11 every game? Always out numbered everywhere.
Last year it was because our midfielders sucked. I think this game it’s because Wolff isn’t doing anything and possession ends with almada
Done with Almada. He had Lennon totally unmarked on that free kick. Lennon was begging for the ball. Almada ignored him and put it in the stands. Almada is about getting a euro contract. Not about winning.
He tries to play that style like Messi but he can’t pull it off. I think sometimes we’d be a better overall team with a different style of player at the 10.
We’ve had our chances, just haven’t finished them. We’re not out of this yet
Don’t look at me. Just trying to throw this game away.
One potential negative about Cobb, he seems kinda slow. Especially to be so young
wtf are y’all doing, wake up
Almada’s an incredible set piece taker, but that seemed a bit of a reach. He must have seen the GK pushing up
Soft penalty, but a bad turnover made it possible.
Welp… that changed the whole game. Thanks for the BS call, ref.
Welp. Let’s show our grit and tie it up. It’s not like we weren’t threatening goals multiple times.
I can’t tell if the announcers are clueless or if the wrong graphic was up
Even the announcer thinks they’re reviewing the pen, how the heck are they reviewing this for serious foul play?!
In assuming the title was wrong
This PK brought to you by Charmin Ultrasoft.
Get up you fragile ballerina
Checking red card???
I was just wondering that. Why would it be a red???
Yeah that was clearly incorrect. Booth graphic guy needs to grab a coffee
Such a weak @$$ penalty call… ridiculous. Sigh.
Yea it’s weak but you can’t put your arm there and tug at all
We will get three of the same play and no pk will be called.
So any contact during a corner should be a pk now. If you are giving that light a touch
Nice dive.
If it comes back no PK. Should see a yellow for a dive.
And then poor plays by Wolff and Muyumba to result in a penalty.
That sucks. We were gonna go a goal up soon. Now they can sit back
Almost picked a pocket there
Ooooooooo.
Also, how is that not a corner?!?!
Almada is trying to play hero. Brooks was open – pass to him!
Whoever bet on skying it is having a field day.
Patience, staying compact, moving as a unit, and no individual mistakes on defense and we have a chance to walk away with 3 points.
Unrelated, but am I the only one that has a horrible, bottom of the barrel bass sound on the Apple TV feed? It is so annoying to have such sub-par sound from a paid service.
I’m using crappy tv speakers because my sound bar is in storage but it sounds normal to me
I noticed the audio is odd, I think it’s a production issue in stadium
The crowd sound is really weird. The announcers are normal, though.
Almada, not a good choice
We’re making chances now
Is it possible for anyone to not shoot it straight into the air?
Speaking of which, I googled Araujo’s stats this season. How we got 12m for him I’ll never know.
Speed
Wolff still with a knack for being right place right time… just not so much on target that time lol
Lennon really upping his cross game this season.
Lennon has really grown over the years. His work rate is incredible and his crosses have definitely improved.
I feel like we’re playing well, we just need to get the goal.
Didn’t know the home side could used balloons to defend.
That keeper got lucky he saved that one, sheesh
Ramadan food break
Really great chance from the high pressure there. I think we are close. If we get the first goal, I feel good about this one.
How do ya’ll change your profile pics? I’m tired of being a caustic dorito.
lol, mine is because I have my email typed in, I guess it pulls it from my google account.
I do too, it must not be integrating correctly I guess
Hovering over your picture vs others that have it, it’s saying something about a gravatar. There might need to be some sort of permission you need to accept. Trying hovering over one of our pictures, select view profile, and see if it gives you a thing to log into.
Drink break? Is it hot up there? I haven’t seen that yet this year
We are now stopping games for religious breaks
Ramadan break for Muslim players who can now break their fast at 8pm. I don’t know how much longer Ramadan is, ik it’s been going on for like a month now.
Not an unreasonable thing to allow a break for imo.
Interesting, I’ve never heard of stopping for religious breaks but it makes sense
Except he is participating in violence. You could argue that he could.be opted out for travel. He could also feed a needy person for one day if he did not fast today.
I’m confused, how is fasting violence?
He’s play a sporting event. During Ramadan you aren’t suppose to be violent among other things.
So close kid.
There’s one of those spots where we’re WAAY too adamant about playing out of the back. It’s a free kick, take it.
Also, Cobb over Abram is pretty nuts (in a good way). Excited Cobb is having a good season.
Wish he’d gotten something on that though
Sands on a yellow this early is great
That should be a yellow shouldn’t it?
It is. Just took them a while to put it on the broadcast.
There it is
We aren’t controlling possession, but we’re absorbing their attacks pretty well so far
As I say that 😬
Thiare taking out the goal lol
Have we ever won an aerial midfield?
Not really.
Field looks weird….small?
Not as small as Yankee Stadium, but still a little undersized, though they swear it’s 70 yds wide.
Hi everyone not watching the Braves rn. 7-0…
Not a great opening frame for Fried
Yea second start in a row
Hung over from the bad news on Strider,
Fried struck out the side in the 2nd, so maybe he figured something out. 6-0 Snakes
Starting XI:
Guz
Lennon – Cobb – Williams – Wiley
Slisz – Muyumba
Saba – Almada – Wolff
Thiare
Note as mentioned above: Silva, Tank, Gregersen out due to injuries.
No Rios on the bench… Went to a lot of trouble to get another forward and now he’s not dressing… Weird.
I think I heard he was slightly injured as well.
so I was correct that Wolff would start over Mosquera…i should play the power ball
Gonna have to watch the replay tonight because I won’t get home until close to 11p. Not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse, but hoping to be pleasantly surprised!
Tactical W inbound