Welp, it was fun while it lasted.
Atlanta United’s Cinderella run through the MLS Cup Playoffs comes to an end after a 1-0 defeat against Orlando City in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Rob Valentino decided to go with a 3-5-2 shape with Pedro Amador and Saba Lobjanidze as wingbacks and Jamal Thiare and Alexey Miranchuk up top.
As expected, it was Orlando that controlled the game from the start. The Lions’ dominance paid off in the 39th minute as a loose ball from a corner kick was slotted home by Ramiro Enrique to put the hosts ahead.
The Five Stripes’ challenges only multiplied as Thiare had to come off before halftime due to an apparent lower leg injury. Daniel Rios checked in and finished the first half for an Atlanta side that struggled to create much of anything. Orlando dominated shots in the first half 7-2 and shots on target 3-0.
Atlanta’s injury luck only got worse as Rios was blasted with the ball after Orlando kicked off the second half. With the Mexican striker forced to leave via a concussion substitution, full back Ronald Hernandez entered to change up the team’s shape. Lobjanidze was pushed up to join Miranchuk on the front two so that Hernandez could slot in at right wing back.
But despite the Five Stripes’ best efforts, they were unable to even register a shot on target for the entirety of the match. As such, it was the Lions that claimed victory and they will move on to face New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Final.
This match followed two worrisome trend for the Five Stripes throughout the season: First, it followed one of its best performances (or in this case two of them against Inter Miami) with one of its worst. Second, the team completely lost the momentum it gained before an international break and this cost them a place in the Conference Final.
Atlanta United now has a massive offseason ahead with an ongoing search for a technical director, permanent head coach, 1-2 designated players and more to get the team in top shape for 2025.
While the season might be over, we at Scarves and Spikes are going nowhere and will continue to give you the best Atlanta United coverage out there (in my totally expert unbiased opinion). Be sure to follow us on our social platforms so you don’t miss a thing.
Jamal Thiare is the first of our players to share a Thank You message. Looks like his time in Atlanta may be coming to a close.
In my opinion, no.
I think he gets more of a leash than Pineda because he got started in a crappy situation, and I’m starting to suspect that he might be given the job because I don’t trust that Lagerwey can make a quick decision on candidates who have only been available within the last two weeks (aka Tata). I also didn’t watch the last game as I was working, so I can’t really evaluate how we actually did in the last game.
All that said, no, I don’t think he should be given the head coach job. He needed to prove he could reliably beat someone other than Miami.
We made it far with average bench players. better player would made a difference.
We need scout who know talent – not sure we have that as we got #59 – and he never showed up in the games – in this game never did anything that was worth a start, i would have rather Silva to start. When #26 went down i would have not put in Rio, he is another waste of a position.
We need better front players. Fortune can be good, but never really understand he need to be defending, tackling and disrupting the opponents buildup. But that should be the coach to identify and point out with instructions. McCarty is gone, so if we get a good, young, strong, High IQ defensive mid – Fortune can push up.
We need to have a younger keeper next season – Guzan needs to step aside – to many time he kills the tempo, but holding, instead of counter attack, and he never trigger a fast break as his passing is often in accurate.
I would keep Valentino, get better players, and give the younger players opportunity.
Get rid of Guzan (get better younger goalie), get rid Rios (get a younger faster striker, get rid of #4, and #2 and get better younger defenders.
This team got fleeced – losing Wiley, Thiago and #7 – the coach was never good, and what remained is average bench players – but they tried but was not good enough.
Disagree with this take on the match. Orlando was on the front foot for the first 20 or so minutes, but then it evened out. Brad was rarely tested for the remainder of the game. Calling it one of the worst performances is probably more of an emotional take.
I am proud of how this team finished the season. They could have packed it in, but instead they fought. Nobody expected us to be here. I’ll take this positive momentum heading into next year.
By the way, screw the playoff scheduling. An international break to kill momentum is horrible.
Somewhat agree but it became evident Orlando’s defense shut the counter attack possibility and then we didn’t have the ability to break them down, which was an issue all season long.
To be fair, we didn’t have much of an attack in this game. 3 defensive/holding mids all playing a similar position…there is no attack. Alexey was nowhere to be found most of the game. Saba was everywhere and trying to do it himself. You can’t have one attacking person on the field.
With 2 strikers exiting the game without a 3rd on the bench, finding a goal would be difficult. Given the circumstances, they created plenty of chances to tie that game.
Agreed…..and we’ll said
*Agreed…..and well said
Rollercoaster of a season…I went to 7 home games, more than any other season, got a 5 game pass, went to the home opener against NE…there was a lot to look forward to in this season. They the floor was released out from under us and we started a downhill tumble only to find ourselves limping into the playoffs and taking out Josef & Montreal then Messi and Miami.
Which is what scared me about Orlando…on paper we should have beat them but we couldn’t do anything to get them off step. No attack, no progress and almost no chances until the end when it was do or die. Saba + Hernandez looked more dangerous than Xande & Pedro. Fortune found himself acting more like a 6 with Dax & Slisz also playing like 6’s. Alexey constantly somewhere other than on the ball and 2 unfortunate situations with our 9’s.
I have to remind myself, we shouldn’t have been here to begin with but glad we were able to make something out of nothing (one mid-season DP, interim head coach, backup strikers, and a key starter out for the season). Make some strong moves this offseason, get this roster where it should be, come out strong next season and KEEP THE PLAYERS. Oh, and let’s pick up Josef since Montreal didn’t re-sign him and let him retire with dignity.
What an odd season to be a fan. Thanks to the players for dawning the 5 stripes and giving it your all, especially in the playoffs. That best of 3 against Miami will go down in history.
Huge thanks to Rob. I don’t know if he won the full-time position, but I personally wouldn’t be upset if he did. He showed more heart, tactics, and correct decisions than we ever saw under GP.