It’s a busy time for Atlanta United. We’re at game seven out of eight in the month of May alone, and the worst parts aren’t even over yet.
Atlanta United (3-6-4) welcome LAFC (6-4-3) to the Benz in a quest to halt what feels almost like a freefall. A 1-1 draw in Nashville last weekend was at least better than a loss, but doesn’t inspire much confidence considering the hosts had just let go of the only manager they’d ever known. Atlanta still remain winless through eight MLS games, and weren’t even able to win in regulation (or extra time, for that matter) against USL Championship side Charleston Battery on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup. Meanwhile, LAFC have won their last four in all competitions, conceding only once in that span. One more depressing line for you: Atlanta United is on a three match losing streak *at home*.
You probably want some reasons for optimism. If not optimism, than just anything to stop the pain at this point. So here you go:
Los Angeles isn’t all that great on the road. In fact, of the six away matches in the league they’ve played this year, they’ve wound up losing four of them. Also in Atlanta’s favor, Thiago Almada’s availability is listed as ‘questionable’ rather than ‘out’ for tonight. In fact, this will be the first time since Stian Gregersen’s injury all the way back in late March that no Atlanta United defender will be ‘out’ for a match, with Derrick Williams and Noah Cobb both on the questionable side.
In all reality, though, it’s hard to think positively coming in to this one. Denis Bouanga is still good- really good. In fact, he leads the entire league in shots and shots on target. He’s also got eight goals and five assists in his thirteen matches this season. Atlanta will still be without Giorgos Giakoumakis for this one, so Jamal Thiare and Daniel Rios will be called upon once again to fill the gap at striker for the Five Stripes.
The two clubs last met on June 7th of last year in L.A., where they played to a scoreless draw. Los Angeles last visited the Benz nearly three years ago, in August of 2021, where Atlanta won 1-0. Both teams now hold 99 regular season wins to their names, nearly to the century mark. Could it be Atlanta United who are able to get a long awaited win and cross the century mark this evening?
Kickoff from the Benz is advertised for 7:30 PM ET, with actual kickoff approximately 10 minutes later at 7:40 PM. This match will be shown as usual on Apple TV with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
If you won’t be together in the Benz tonight (or even if you are), hop over to our match thread in the comments below to chat pre-, during, and post- match action against LAFC.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
LAFC’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff Time: Saturday, May 25th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass subscription)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, 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.
I thought we looked better with 2 up top. The ref was garbage. Having gregersen back in the line up is a huge upgrade. If only we could keep everyone healthy I think we would be a MUCH improved team. Not looking forward to Wednesdays game. I think everyone is tired and banged up. It’s going to be rough.
Other mls teams with money are making moves. Our front office is too lazy to sign DPs or hire a coach. Everyone deserves to be fired. The hard part is filling out non DPs. We’ve done that but too lazy to be good
Why is a career assistant coach getting the longest leash I’ve ever seen
1) I don’t know what happened to all our cutback passes, but we need to do those again. those used to be very effective, but now all we do are crosses without enough tall players around to be effective at it
2) I say this while wearing my Almada jersey right now, only one of two named jerseys I own – we either need a competitive #10, need to change tactics completely to not rely on needing a 10, or Almada needs to move on. He hasn’t had any form all season, and because we don’t have anyone who can compete for his position, it’s killed our offense, even when we have most of our offense available.
I get there are not many other options, but going for crosses to try and score seems like a poor decision with all our forwards out.
We should attack more from the beginning, since we’re going to have defensive brain farts even when we don’t.
I wouldn’t categorize this loss as a defensive brain fart – a deflected free kick off the wall is more in the category of poor luck
Sorry reread your post – I agree that we should attack more and I think the 4-4-2 works better for chance creation – just need Someone better than rios up top
of course their free kick manages to bounce in and almada can’t score a free kick anymore.
about time atuesta got that second yellow, he’s been asking for it for awhile
Perhaps the greatest evidence ATL has gone downhill: the Moe’s $ off per goal is back.
Also, screw you Atuesta, L
Is it concerning that I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not?
why is no one back post
Welp, this will be a good time for Almada to not try and play hero ball… at least not in our defensive third. I mean he stays patient and plays and stays in our attacking third and gets a great shot off with his first touches of the game.
Good call or no? I couldn’t really tell from in stadium
It is the right call even though no chance LAFC player gets the ball, but Guzan clearly kicks his legs out.
Eh? I can see foul, Guzan definitely shifted his legs to impede lafc. I think DOGSO is a little more controversial, it depends on if you think he could’ve reached the ball and that there wouldn’t be someone defending.
I think it hard not to give red since he was clearly the last, whether person can get ball or not. Especially since not like Guzan knew the ball was heading out.
if he can’t get to the ball, then it’s not dogso and not a red.
I get that is the case by the books, but I just think it is hard not to think it is deserving a red because Guzan screws up and desperately tries to not let the guy get by. He has no idea the ball is zooming out.
oh I agree he’s probably intending to commit a dogso foul. if it’s not a dogso though, you tell him he’s lucky that ball was going out and you move on.
Maybe there was a fan protest organized on social media to sit to make a point. Just guessing.
That is a fucking garbage call. Their player had zero chance of getting that ball.
I think that it was a shocking call. Yellow card for me.
Lol, last game I made a comment on how every season there is always one moment where Guzan makes a terrible decision coming out and gives away a penalty. Looks like this year it is two instances of terrible decision making.
That is the weakest red I have ever seen
More homerism. If that exact play had been called in our favor against LAFC, you’d be swearing it was the best decision ever. Dude, it’s obvious Guz tried to trip him to avoid getting beaten. It sucks, but the call is right.
The ball was practically already out of bounds, tell me how their player gets to that ball in play. Fucking bullshit call.
It doesn’t matter if he had no chance of getting the ball. He clearly sticks his leg out.
it does because it’s a difference between an uncalled foul and a red card for dogso. one can be created by var, the other can’t.
It 100% matters, you can only call a dogso if he can score…
I’m wrong on this. For dogso, it does say ball control matter. I personally still think it is red since Guzan has no knowledge of that and is deliberately causing a foul and is definitely last man.
It does matter because the nature of the tackle itself doesn’t meet the criteria of “endangering the opponents safety” with studs up or a scissors tackle. The only way it can be a red card is for DOGSO.
I don’t think it should take 7 minutes to figure out if it was red worthy- a red should be obvious. I dont think the dude could have even gotten to it after it smashed his face before it rolled out.
I don’t think it was an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The ball was going away from goal and he wouldn’t have gotten to it.
he’s not getting to that ball, abram is close enough to make a play, there’s no way
Wow, our team came out of halftime asleep
Moral victory in the first half ? Sloppy passes but had some chances ( more than previous games ) and still tied against a good team . Gregorsen is definitely an asset coming back. 4-4-2 I think is at least getting us more chances but one of our forwards is a dude we picked up mid season for 125k – his “quality” is showing . We just don’t have many good bodies up top
My thoughts exactly, there is a very small chance Rios beats a goalie of the quality of Lloris
Half time thoughts:
we’re playing our ass off, but the talent gap is real
Honest question – I assume anyone who has any real finishing ability plays somewhere other than MLS?? I can’t stand to watch so many shots from every MLS team go 40 rows up or is a mishit.
Terrible from Daniel Rios.
How do you not put that on target?
I will admit the fouls against LAFC seem to be fair (once they show the replay at least), but I’m wondering why it seems like nothing is getting called the other way.
Muyumba is depressingly sloppy with the ball.
I would simply not pass it to the other team so much.
i guess Atlanta is going to run a 4-4-2 look by putting out both Rios and Thiare
My “give a shit” meter is about as low as it’s ever been. I anticipate another plodding uninspired offensive display.
I used to get hyped for match day….not I just go pffft.
I got a group of ~8 people going, many for the first time. I hope we somehow don’t embarrass ourselves, but realistically LAFC are a better team right now, especially without Almada or GG, so I expect a 1-3 loss or something along those lines.
Pretty risky. If we win, good for you. If it’s SSDD and the supporters are their usual angry selves, you’re gonna have about 7 people asking “WTF do you go to this?” Historically we have done well against Cali teams, but GG is listed as out. Good luck.
Nah, even if we lose, you can still enjoy yourself
Agreed…hoping we don’t embarrass ourselves.
Vamos Atlanta!
Yes, we may be having a rough go of it, but should still be a great time at the Benz tonight.
I can’t imagine Almada plays, but I think I’m probably fine with that at this point. Hopefully Thiarre gets the start and we can get some good balls in to feed him. If Williams is indeed back, that’s a huge lift as well.
If Man U can beat City…
I have no confidence in Pineda. It would not shock me to see ATL lose 3-0.