Here’s a tweet that perfectly recaps what this game (and the Montreal game) was for Atlanta United.
The Five Stripes fell 2-0 in a visit to its rival Charlotte FC on Saturday in Matchday 2 of the MLS regular season. The team drops to 1-1-0 and gets shut out despite having all the pieces of its opulent attack on display.
Ronny Deila’s starting XI featured a few changes from the one that defeated CF Montreal 3-2 in the season opener last week. Ronald Hernandez and Mateusz Klich were both late scratches: Hernandez suffered a quadriceps injury during the week and Klich was sick with flu-like symptoms. Luis Abram slotted in at left back while Matt Edwards held it down at right back. To replace Klich, Jay Fortune was deployed in midfield beside Bartosz Slisz. Finally, Derrick Williams reclaimed his spot in the starting XI after being listed as questionable for last week’s opener.
Despite missing a few starters, the Five Stripes looked the better team throughout the first half. Matt Edwards did a good job of keeping Wilfried Zaha quiet and helping the team move forward down the right side. Atlanta led Charlotte 10-2 in shots and 0.9 to 0.5 in the first half.
However, the team continued a concerning trend of completely falling off a cliff in the second half. Charlotte took the lead in the 50th minute after Atlanta’s defense was unable to deal with a long ball, allowing Pep Biel to smash it past Guzan for the opener.
First goal at the Fortress in 2025.
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) March 1, 2025
We are OFF AND RUNNING. pic.twitter.com/mdyO2lHsAy
Just four minutes later, Zaha opened his MLS account after getting on the end of a save that rebounded to him and made it 2-0.
Welcome to MLS, Wilfried Zaha.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 1, 2025
A goal on his @CharlotteFC debut! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zfD4pqHShj
One of the more concerning aspects of the game was that Atlanta United got shut out despite having its entire attacking arsenal available from the start. Although it created many promising chances in the first half, it just couldn’t keep it going as the game progressed. Charlotte did a good job of keeping Emmanuel Latte Lath quiet and the Five Stripes couldn’t find him at all in the second half.
Defensively, the lack of fullback depth showed. Luis Abram struggled throughout the game, both building forward and defending. Although Matt Edwards had a solid first half, Zaha’s superior experience showed in the second 45, and he was rewarded with a goal. The Five Stripes desperately need their fullbacks to be back, especially because they are such a vital part of how the team builds up.
Atlanta United returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 8 when it hosts Eastern Conference Champions New York Red Bulls. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments below.
MY Take – We really need a better goalie, our mids do not help on defense, and defense allow to many inbound ball over the top. Also #59 is useless – not sure why he is there is it because they paid alot for him?
Edward did much better that Lennon would have ever done, against a skill player.
Edwards can get better – he put in balls and given the green light he can press up.
Hope we do better on the next game.
I’m going to say this until I’m blue in the face!! Getting a better keeper will fix A LOT of defensive issues! So many of our goals we let up are because Guz can no longer move! He stands on his touch line and doesn’t come off of it even if the cross is right in front of his face! Our CB’s are good! Guz might be good at directing people around. But unless the ball comes directly to him he’s not stopping shit! I NEED YALL TO STOP GLAZING HIM LIKE HES DOING SO MUCH! He has been brilliant in like 5 games in the last 3 years! But those 5 games don’t excuse the 30-40 goals he has given up in the 3 years that are directly his fault
Completely out played in midfield during the 2nd half but despite that I’m in the more time needed camp.
That said two issues that can’t wait are Edwards and Guzan. Middle school error from Edwards. Wind, sun, pitch are not excuses. Over his head (literally) in both matches so far.
Guzan could have done better for both goals. Should have dived for the first and not tried to save with his feet. Bad positioning for the second, should have been off his line closing down the angles.
Again, can we score enough goals for cover for these two weaknesses at the back?
To be fair, Edwards is because we have no one else because everyone else is injured, not because we want to play him. Dude is having to grow up fast.
Here we go again with ” it’s still early”. How many years have we been hearing that?
Again, for all those who say United is “back”, they need to prove it and the first two games have raised some of the same old concerns
Not to make excuses for our backup defenders, but I’m wondering if the wind caused them to misjudge the long balls that led to goals. I wasn’t sure if Charlotte was getting the wind gusts that Atlanta was, but during the game, you could see that the wind was blowing the hair of certain players (e.g. Miranchuk). Also, that might help explain Saba’s corner kick that went clear over everyone.
At any rate, I thought we looked like the better side in the first half, though Charlotte was well organized defensively. But after those two goals, they were able to sit back and we had no answers. We looked piss poor in the last 30 minutes.
Agree. I’m still not sold on Alexey. They keep trying to tell us they built this team around him trying to justify their $13MM buy. But I ain’t seeing it. Almiron is basically playing as a 10 anyway. He drifts into that space the whole game. Alexey is lost.
I would make these changes immediately.
Buy out Abram’s contract and bring in a good center back.
Start Cobb instead of Gregorson.
If Amador is not ready on Saturday, start Chung Qui.
Bench Alexey and put Almiron at the number 10.
Find some back up fullbacks.
We have to give Miranchuk a bit more time since he hasn’t been *bad* per se, but I’m 100% behind buying out Abram as soon as we have a replacement
He’s had plenty of time to show us what he’s capable of and it’s just not translating to on-field play. He’s not a 10, we need to stop acting like he is.
He looks lost on the field, the ball doesn’t go through him and he doesn’t control anything (tempo, control, etc.) in the game. Other teams do not seem to fear him either so he’s a non-factor in the game.
I’m not seeing it yet with Miranchuk either. He’s smooth in possession and can pick a nice pass, but too often it just doesn’t seem to translate to anything. Hopefully the attack will gel with more time, but agree he seems to disappear from the game too often.
He seems to be pretty good at navigating and keeping the ball in tight spaces. Kind of like Nagbe, but at his price point we should be seeing Nagbe-like (really better than Nagbe) production.
Scary, dear Atlantistas. Disorganized talent up front, and a mess in the back. It was good to see Soviet Mechanic, Almiron, Latte moving, but you could not ge to clear goal situations. Those balls in tight angles, virtually don´t result in anything. And in the back, sweet jesus, you were scored two goals worthy of a “pelada” – those non-serious games we play with friends on weekends. Absolutely not first division.
I am terribly sorry to say this, but you need a coach.
On my end, Gremio did make it to the finals of our meaningless state championship, and will face Inter, like always. But, so far, our fina Argentinian coach is also leaving something to be desired.
Too early to say on the coach. We were missing both fullbacks and that really hurt us
I understand. But good coaches design the team around what they have, and don´t go to the game with parts in place that cannot play the part. That´s incompentence on the coach. But it is not just that. I see a team poorly shaped, with the good players in wrong positions. I think Atlanta spent well on players, but not on a world level coach.
I agree with you. Knowing what players were available and being an away game, maybe you change the formation… maybe a 5-3-2 and play long balls more often. Just my thoughts… we were Outcoached in the second half
That was hilarious. Well, this is Juventude, a club upstate that plays way above their paygrade. Maybe you could hire some of their guys for a good price, for sure. Your current defense is a very unselective filter.
Who completely misplayed that ball in the 2nd goal? Can’t see from small video on my phone, but that was atrocious
I think two things can be true here:
1. Matt Edwards has potential and should absolutely have opportunities for minutes this year.
2. For the fans that think that we have enough pieces for a championship run, Matt Edwards is a liability.
I largely agree. I just hope that the team makes adjustments and that fans realize its very possible that we may be an exciting but undisciplined team until the summer until we can pursue additional reinforcements that will probably be needed at some point.
I think its very possible that we middle along as a 5/6 seed until the summer, at which point we can try to push for 3/4 and ride that momentum into the playoffs.
That game by ATL UTD was pathetic! The good thing is that it’s early on in the season and there is time for much needed improvement, so we don’t end up as the laughing stock of MLS this season by seasons end. However, I need to see more CONSISTENCY & EFFORT on both sides of the ball from this team and them act like they want to win the game especially when a game going forward will either be tied this season (or) we are down by 1 like we were early on during today’s match before the 2nd goal was scored (even though I understand that there will be some continued shuffling for awhile by Deila with the “Starting XI”) because right now we are playing too conservative and scared instead of taking every opportunity to push the ball forward and still playing from the back too much. Guz was the “MOTM” albeit in a losing effort in my opinion.
It’s clear that this offense needs to hang out more. They are not on the same page.
That game was gross.