Another “must-win” game, more disappointing points dropped.
Atlanta United once again dropped important points in its visit to Philadelphia Union. Points that the team needs to try and sneak into the MLS Cup playoffs.
At the time of writing this, Atlanta United is 11th in the East with 34 points in 31 games.
The Five Stripes returned to a 4-2-3-1 with Alexey Miranchuk at the No. 10 and a midfield pairing of Bartosz Slisz and Ajani Fortune. Tyler Wolff started the game at left wing opposite Saba Lobjanidze on the right and Daniel Rios led the line as the striker.
Atlanta United started the game on the defensive as the hosts created most of the attacking chances. The Union posted 7 shots in the first half while the Five Stripes couldn’t get near Andre Blake’s goal until close to halftime.
The hosts’ dominance paid off in the 61st minute as Nathan Harriel hit a shot from outside the box that gave Brad Guzan no chance. With his long-range goal, Harriel gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.
The Five Stripes struck back in the 72nd minute as Lobjanidze headed home a Brooks Lennon cross to level the game with his 9th goal of the season across all competitions.
In the end, neither team could get the better of the other and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Atlanta had a few moments toward the end where it seemed to get close to making something happen, but Philadelphia were absolutely dominant with 7 of 22 shots on goal to Atlanta’s 1 of 7.
Normally, this would be a “draw that feels like a win,” but in a playoff chase where Atlanta desperately needs wins, this feels like another two points dropped. This team is quickly running out of chances.
Atlanta United returns to action on Wednesday to host Josef Martinez and CF Montreal in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
What did you think of the game? Let us know in the comments and fill out your player ratings below.
Since there is not much else to talk about. Thoughts on the unplugged? I appreciate them addressing the difficult questions that I am sure flooded the inbox, and I do not necessarily fault them for the somewhat standard responses. But not certain I can be convinced by anything at this point besides results. I’ll be positive with the right coaching hire and player acquisitions, but the full blown optimism and positivity is going to take results before that is back for me.
If all the players gave like Saba does, we wouldn’t be where we are. Still not impressed by Miranchuk, so far to me, just average
That defensive bunching we do when pushed back caused the Philly goal. 5-6 people bunched in the 6 yard box allowed their right back to come in and score a banger. If Fortune was up higher like he should have been, likely not as clean of a goal strike.
One thing i’ve noticed after watching a few PL games this morning then this one is no one on our team likes to dribble. No one tends to get the ball and just drive it forward. We have to pass, go 2 steps and find someone to pass it to, which usually means backwards too. I’m all for passes, but if no one is open and all you’re doing is going back, dribble forward and create a chance.
The only two players in the team that can win one on one’s off the dribble are Alexey and Saba. Neither of those guys can find space to have 1:1s because no one fears Daniel Rios or Tyler Wolff enough to not double or triple team them.
I’m not saying dribble to take on defenders, i’m just saying accept the ball and actually move it. We’re too quick to pass it around instead and it’s usually a back pass.
But i’ll say this, even Saba’s dribbling has looked bad lately.
We play the same patterns and tactics that Tottenham used to throttle Manchester United at Old Trafford today. We just have worse execution because of the talent differential.
We need a coach that can get the midfielders to play defense… You can’t leave someone open on the field there….
100% agree. We’ve been bunching on defense since Pineda took over. Nobody pressures the ball carrier. We end up with five guys covering two players (or worse, covering grass) inside the penalty box, and give the other team all the space they want just outside the 18 to pick a pass or find a shot. It’s a recipe for disaster. Whoever we get to coach needs to fix this, or we’ll keep leaking silly goals.
The team continues to be limited by its attacking finishers. Daniel Rios and Tyler Wolff just aren’t good enough to draw defenders off of Alexey and Saba.
The attack did improve when Muyumba came in for Wolff.
Wolff used to have some technical skill that put him in dangerous positions but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Possibly due to lack of playing time, inconsistent coaching, etc. Muyumba had a much better game and he definitely helped push a higher line (whereas fortune appears to struggle with this.)
Wolff has the ability to grab a few poachers’ goals here or there, but the defense has to be concerned about the 10 for that to happen.
On the plus side, we cost Philly 2 points.