After leaving Austin with a point by the skin of their teeth, Atlanta United heads straight into a second match this week as they face off with second in the Eastern Conference Philadelphia Union this evening in an early season rematch of a 3-0 defeat for the Five Stripes just a month ago.
Jamal Thiare’s late 92nd minute equalizer Wednesday night helped to salvage what was ultimately another standard 2025 Atlanta United match: a motivated start fading off over the course of the first half until the team is completely overrun in the second. With three starting defenders out, a midfield lacking for quickness, and a team just playing survival ball at this point, a draw on the road was better than just about anyone had predicted. Still, it’s not a result or performance the Five Stripes need or want in order to bring any sense of feeling back into an increasingly tired fanbase or challenge for any kind of successes this season (unless you consider winning the Wooden Spoon an actual accomplishment).
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has been flying through league play, winning four of their last five MLS matches and drawing the other with Columbus. Striker Tai Baribo is on top of the Golden Boot standings with 10 goals, and midfielder Quinn Sullivan is tied for most assists with 6. A goal difference of +12 is second only to Vancouver, and a 3-2 comeback win over the L.A. Galaxy on Wednesday only threw more fuel on the fire. To be blunt, this match doesn’t look good in any way for Atlanta tonight.
As far as good news goes, Atlanta’s injury report now only contains Stian Gregersen, meaning that Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador are back and available to play in tonight’s match. Will it make a difference? Hopefully…? For fans’ sake, at least, we can hope for a solid showing for the supporters still committed and showing up for this Atlanta United team.
Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for a 7:40 PM ET start, with streaming provided on Apple TV with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage will be available in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor. Additionally, the match will stream through the EA Sports FC Mobile App, allowing a worldwide audience to tune in through the mobile version of the popular game.
How are we feeling headed into this one? Hop down into the match thread below to let us know and follow along as Atlanta goes again against Philly.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Philadelphia Union’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff Time: Saturday, May 17th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass Subscription), EA Sports FC Mobile App
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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I said the same thing Wednesday… but once again we look like we have a plan and execute it pretty well but CANT score for anything. Then we have a bone headed mistake (Austin game careless foul). We have to get the ball in the net so we can build trust in the plan and grow while also not shooting ourself in the foot
This coach is not good at picking..I would have put 59 on the bench..start mosquera in the left and saba on the right..miggy at the 10..we would have done better. Fortune and muyuba..look ok..but muyumba look weak on defense help. Guzan messed up and it hard to slide to block if he kick on to his hand ..that should have been a penalty..he is in a sliding and did not lift it ..the shot hit his hand.
We need some mids that can take the ball and turn up field. Edward looked good….
Lost me at “start Mosquera”
it just looks like Almiron plays like he doesn’t want to score and just wants assists. if he wants to play the 10, I wish he played a bit more selfish, when it comes to being inside the box.
They didn’t play bad but still didn’t score. They make DeBoers teams looks like an offensive juggernaut
pre-injury Josef might’ve had something to do with that…
This team is garbage
Ive got a fever and the only prescription is less Mosquera
I have found my tolerance for Mosquera is 15-20 minutes before his lack of skill (aside from pure speed) shows up
I can’t tell what Miggy is doing – we always seems to be on top of other players even when they are on the wings
You can’t say we haven’t had our chances
Center midfield just standing and watching way too much. The backline is looking for someone to pass to and the CM just stand there with a blank stare, with this “don’t make me run again” look. Either they need to work on their fitness or they sub the midfield pair at half
That’s a lack of attacking tactics, and that’s totally on the coach. #DeilaOut
Keep knocking on the door lads. Something has to break
Would be nice to see ELL come on…
Your wish has been granted
Not even too mad about the pen. I get that it’s a normal sliding motion, but by the letter of the law, any handball that blocks a shot in the box is a pen.
I understand Guzan screwed up there, but I don’t understand how Abram is supposed to slide with his arms to his side. It’s not like he swung his arms to hit the ball
Dammit
Andddd there’s the Atlanta united I know and hate
I’m pleasantly surprised so far. They’re showing signs of life. Though of course it doesn’t mean anything until it starts going in the back of the net.
But the ball is actually moving with some sort of purpose through to the final third with some ok xg shots.
Woah the Benz sounds loud. Can any in person confirm?
It’s louder to me than last time (I went to the Dallas game last, I think), but I’ve also got someone yelling right behind me so I might not have accurate perception.
‘Tis indeed a good crowd.
This Philadelphia defense is unbelievable! They’ve held us scoreless so far this half.
Surely fortune has locked down that spot as the 6/8
Already loving the energy that Saba is bringing
Saba plays too much glory ball…he needs to figure out how to get his head up and pass earlier while there are options.
Same story – playing pretty well the first 30 minutes . Hopefully the next 60 doesn’t follow the same plot
Same old story. Our ability to put shots on frame is atrocious.
its good to see philly is consistent regardless who is the head coach. they still go down with soft contact…
Well that is unfortunate
Guz with a mighty paw
Guz is still a stud. Only player worth a damn
Philly is wearing our ugly blue jerseys 🙂
Delia’s a mad genius. There’s NFW that Philly prepped for that lineup.
Why does Mira keep starting? The guy isn’t good.
Insanity
Gotta give it to Ronny… dude has some crazy ideas and is trying anything… benching LL is… interesting
And Saba. Again.
Saba must have done something. It makes no sense
For sure. And he seems to be refusing to sit the one player who has universally been criticized as underperforming. What does Miranchuk have on Deila?
I truly think he and the FO love Alexei. Or else they need him to get minutes so we can sell him
Work load has to be some of this, I assume. Can’t decide whether to like this lineup or not.
My apathy has reached such a level that I traveled this weekend and totally didn’t even realize we had a home game and even when I found out, didn’t even bother listing my tickets assuming no one would even want them (although I managed to sell them somehow at only like a 30% loss of value this afternoon on FB).
Anyway. Watching the NY derby right now and seeing Maxi crushing it. Would have been nice if our 30 year old nostalgia signing was doing as well as their 38 year old nostalgia signing.
I’ll be there with no expectations. In fact, my measure of success will be if we can score three goals. Doesn’t even matter if we win tbh. I would just like to be entertained for a change.
You’ll watch us pass the ball backwards to Guzan AND LIKE IT!!!
Glad I will be at a wedding reception and not watching this live.
Going to this one only because we already had tickets and hadn’t gotten rid of them yet. I’m more interested in looking for some decent food.
Yeah, I’ll be there too. Probably early to look for decent food as well. Maybe the only joy we’ll get tonight.
Found some Korean bbq for (relative to other kbbq) cheap nearby, and turns out the seats my dad got for us are near field level. Ready to watch us suck up close!
Finish the sentence:
If I were Ronny Deila, I would…
Play with a back line of ten with Owen Gowel as the lone invisible man up front
…. Not start Slisz
Start Saba at right wing
Play Miranchuk higher up the field than Almiron, let Almiron play as the 8/10 and Miranchuk as the 10/SS
Not start Numchuks or Klick or Lennon. Start Saba on the right. Start Muyumba And Fortune an Miggie in the middle.
Start looking for another job
Update my resume.
Dread, apathy, dissatisfaction; those are a few of my feelings.