The driver’s license derby has officially come to a conclusion, and here are a couple of final whistle thoughts as you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and early week!
Atlanta won the mind game
Everyone knows Philly’s propensity to be gravitationally challenged, and it often becomes a mind game that irks opposing teams. However, they epitomize the old adage: “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it.” Atlanta United played a much cleaner game, but they remained tough in challenges and frustrated Philadelphia into multiple yellows. Jose Martinez, for his part, should’ve been sent off in the first half on a second yellow after throwing a fit – and the ball – after a challenge didn’t go his way.
Unfortunately, the Five Stripes were unable to stay disciplined enough in their own defensive third to keep a 2-0 lead, and Philly came back to draw even in a short span. They then almost made it 3-2 but the offside flag saved the day.
Backup strikers babayyyyy
That’s three games in a row where Atlanta’s striker not named Giorgos Giakoumakis has scored a goal, and that is massive news. It obviously goes without saying but being able to take the weight off GG is critical to this team’s success late in the year, and the duo of Jamal Thiare and Daniel Rios seem to be setting themselves up nicely to feed when they get opportunities.
Atlanta United has a team where goals can quite literally come from anywhere, including their homegrown full back who takes shots from downtown Atlanta and SCORES THEM! I’ve said it before in these columns and I’ll say it again: when Atlanta United gets rolling, they are a behemoth to deal with. They begin using their ability to quickly break to their advantage and it becomes so difficult for teams to not get caught too high up the pitch. It didn’t necessarily work to perfection this time around, but Atlanta looked rather goal dangerous most of the afternoon.
The defense switched off momentarily and it cost Atlanta
Perhaps the changes in the second half were too much to keep chemistry alive and well, but an otherwise stingy Atlanta defense for most of the match turned awry and allowed Philly back into the game. In fact, it almost cost them the match entirely. To be fair, the back pass by Mosquera to open up the first Philly goal was just a tough break all around, but the back line had to be more aware.
The second goal was given up quickly thereafter, and the collective blood pressure rose as both teams tried to steal all three points. To be fair, Atlanta continued to push and had their opportunities, but neither team could find the ultimate breakthrough. That leaves Philly still unbeaten, and Atlanta United at 6th in the Eastern Conference.
Back at it next weekend against Cincinnati. Let us know your thoughts and opinions below!
Yes, extremely lucky. But it’s about time some calls go our way. I feel like more often than not, we’re on the other side of it.
Dear Atlantistas. I watched the first half, felt I had a good idea of what was going on, and then checked the goals. Both of the goals allowed were more given, than allowed. A midfielder who crosses a ball back toward its defense third, and a defender who heds a ball toward its penalty spot, are inexcusable.
Losing the three points at home, against very average opposition, because of very bad defensive errors should pont to something. Team needs improvement, if it wants do compete for anything serious. As is, Atlanta is not going to compete. Time to add talent.
Incidentally, my Gremio played a terrible team, Vasco da Gama, and lost 2×1. We need talent.
Brightest silver linings of the day:
-Almada looked great
-We have not ONE, but TWO serviceable backup strikers. LETSGOOO
Just before Mosquera’s ill fated back pass on Philly’s first goal, the ball appeared to go over the touchline off a Philly player. Saba and Pineda both raised their hands asking for the call and most of our players switched off. Then Cobb hesitated going after the backpass, probably because he thought Brad would get to the ball, but it drifted wide and Brad had to retreat. Cobb turned on the afterburners, but it was too late. Just a really unfortunate series of errors. I went back and froze the frame where I thought the ball was out, but it wasn’t clear from the camera angle. The players clearly thought it was, but like I teach my U9 players, don’t stop ’till the whistle blows. Basic stuff.
Team looked good today…at times very dangerous. Center backs filled in admirably. The first goal conceded was 100% a bone headed choice and execution by a single player. The second was a bit more of a group affair but fairness to Philly, was a pretty nice finish. Overall encouraged by the performance…this is a decent side and a lot to build on.
It looked like a foul throw in on their goal to boot…wasn’t the first time that happened during the game….well over the sideline.
I saw that one, kinda weird it didn’t go to VAR
Per Doug Roberson it’s apparently not reviewable…kind of lame when a goal is involved.
Wow that’s stupid.
That kind of thing happens on half the throws every match. It’s disappointing that our guys were so distracted by something so petty. Play defense and it’s a moot point.
Laws of the game should be enforced.
This is a foul throw.
I’m tired of throw-ins just sliding along into the NBA bin of rules that we ignore.
How long till we see players slinging it one handed and not get called.
That’s a good angle.
I suspect VAR is explicitly NOT available for “boundary calls.” This would be to prevent a constant stream of reviews on every ball to a line.
Felt like losing 2 points more than gaining one. I don’t mind the final outcome; it’s how we got there that stinks.
Agreed. We had it. Honestly unlucky not to get a 3rd, but we collapsed defensively on their 1st goal to let them back in.
Up two with 20 to play. Inexcusable. We are shit.
The headlines to this column are crap. We did not “win”anything.
I think it’s time to try someone besides Wolff if Silva remains out.
Wolf looked tired and not ready to play
Who else do we have? Mosquera, who single handedly let Philly back in the game yesterday?
That pass is uneventful 98% of the time. If Lennon is normally positioned where he is, he takes the ball upfield to quickly change field position. Note that I am not blaming Lennon. Unfortunately, it was played when Lennon and Cobb both got pulled out of position. How many times does Almada make that exact same pass to get us out of pressure?
Hey all. I didn’t get to watch the whole game, but enough to know it was disappointing to ‘switch off defensively after going up 2-0’.
Having said that, to get a point playing an undefeated team without some key starters and positions, is a serious win in my book. This simply would NOT have happened last year, so the fact that we are disappointed in not being able to get 3 is an accomplishment that we shouldn’t over look.
Our team is going to be alright. We are a solid team! Onward and upward!
Nope. Should have been a win.
I didn’t say it shouldn’t have been a win, but what I did say is that this result (with the shortages we had on the field) was a big step in improvement from last year. If you can’t see that, then continue to look at the bad vs considering the good.
We are going to be all right… we have a good team this year.
These are the kind of lost points that cost us home advantage last year. Same story this year…
If I didn’t know anything about the game I’d probably be saying that was a good result.
However, having watched the game, definitely feels like a loss.
I was there and it felt completely like a loss.
My dude. Chamomile. Helps calm the nerves.
Yea this is how I feel as well. Before the game this felt like a 2-0 loss for us, in my opinion with the players we had missing. But circumstances change, we played better than expected, and built a 2 goal lead. Blowing said 2 goal lead with 20 minutes to go is a bitter pill to swallow and changes how I feel about the game completely. We were also a little lucky at the end the ref blew for full time in the middle of Philadelphia’s attack. They were right to be upset about that but also lucky to still have Jose Martinez on the field who 1000% should have gotten a second yellow for chucking the ball away. Maybe that was our make up call?
Pretty sure the offside flag for Union’s third goal was the make up for the missed throw in infraction. Maybe the quick final whistle was to even out them not having been down to 10 men as they ought to have been.
It looked to me on the broadcast that it actually was offsides. Not by a lot, but it doesn’t have to be.
I thought that was offsides too, pretty clearly
I think that if we had had a winning goal taken away by that call you’d say differently.
After seeing some replays and screenshots, I will admit it was closer than I originally thought and honestly could have gone either way. I guess in that sense we were a little lucky here
Here’s my reaction:
1) If Almada were half as good as he thinks he is, we win
2) Utter and complete switch off aftwr we scored our 2nd goal
Almada has been disappointing all season. Hopefully, we get a rebound from him. Or he stays with us; which would be dissatisfying for both.
He’s certainly struggling to make the impact that he made at times last year. He’s still a very good #10 in the MLS, but I don’t watch him and think he’s EPL-bound or anything
Blame the defense and Mosquera all you want, but this “loss” is the direct result of players holding the ball when there are other options. Mosquera is never in that uncomfortable position if the ball isn’t turned over in the opposite corner. Too many attacks are slowed or lost by players taking too many touches. It seems to be a constant affliction.
How many times do find yourself yelling “Pass the effing ball!”?
Far to many
Who is blaming
Mosquera? Wasnt it Firmino that gifted Philly their first goal?
Just rewatched the highlights. Mosquera made the back pass and should absolutely be blamed.
50/50. Mosquera made a shaky back pass but Noah Cobb had shut off when he saw Almada shout for a throw in that wasn’t given. Cobb should have cleared that ball.
Thats very generous for Mosquera. For all the decent chances Philly had, the Mosquera pass was their most threatening one of the night.
Oh, it was an absolute gift. But Cobb should have been at least on the attacker quicker.
I think Cobb misread the flight of the ball. He stopped, thinking Brad had it covered and only took off when he saw the ball drifting wide towards the Philly striker. He is fast, but it was too late.
I want Stian and Derrick back.
Abram and Cobb played pretty well today. Today’s loss was definitely not on them.
No yess I absouloutly agree. I just like to convince myself otherwise to cope with the pain of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.