Atlanta United welcomed allowed Orlando City up to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a midweek match fresh off their 4-2 victory over FC Cincinnati. The hope was the momentum would carry the Five Stripes to new heights after breaking their 8 game winless streak, AND OH LAWD WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH?! The final result was a rear-clenching 3-2 victory the team truly needed before they leave home for the summer. Here are the final whistle thoughts live from the Benz!
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Soft goals
Sometimes this team just can’t get out of their own way. One could only hope that Atlanta would capture lightning after they broke the goal-scoring dam a few days ago and it’d lead to a dominant win at home before they go on a 6 match road trip. Orlando’s two goals in the first half turned that upside down very quickly. The first goal was due to patient buildup from the Lions, in which they drew Atlanta out wide and then played into a ridiculous amount of space at the top of the box. The shot by Araujo was spot on, and though Brad had an argument for obstruction, it was never going to be enough to turn it over.
That second goal, though? Dang. I hate it for Derrick because he was coming off one of his best games in an Atlanta United kit, and he unfortunately went and had a howler of a defensive moment in which a wayward back pass….thing…became a turnover directly in front of net. Mistakes happen, but Atlanta’s just tend to happen at the worst moments.
Predictable
Atlanta is at its best when it’s chaotic, fast, and unpredictable. This game didn’t have much of that. There were a few halfhearted attempts at direct through balls, but the idea of playing the ball into space behind the center backs didn’t happen anywhere near enough. Instead there was a ton of crescent passing around the top of the box…and then not much danger beyond that. Atlanta’s goal came from a decent deflection (and handball, had it not gone in), but that was perhaps one of the only truly dangerous moments early in the match.
Thankfully it wasn’t the only dangerous moment in the match, but there needs to be improvement in how this team bites.
Red card
Cesar Araujo’s red card in the second half gave shades of Atlanta vs Philadelphia earlier in the year, and one could only hope that the result would turn out much differently.
Enter Bartek Slisz. This man hit a banger off the post for his second goal in two games to draw level with Orlando late in the second half, which also inadvertently led to Orlando’s coach Oscar Pareja receiving a red. He then proceeded to hype the fans up in an attempt to go for the game winner. Respect. An opposition red card should be a gift, and Atlanta definitely took more advantage this time around.
And about that game winner……
JAMAL THIARE LFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are indeed aspects of this team that desperately need to get right, but that’s two in a row, y’all. Let us know below what you thought of the match!
Echoing some others, a couple guys that really needed good games showed up and had a good game.
Miranchuk was decent last night overall. I still think we could be demanding more for the cost and the role he occupies, but feels like 2025 is maybe not the year to ask for much.
I still think DC are laughing every time they see Klich in an ATL kit. He had a decent enough game, but certainly not enough to refer to him as a 4th DP. Seems like it was worth getting him off their roster if that’s the kind of performance they get for his salary.
Thiare proves time and again that he was probably more than a backup striker quality and just needs some good play behind him to allow him to capitalize on his chaotic, aggressive energy. He’s just an absolute menace everywhere in the final third off the ball.
I am not knocking our effort and just how absolutely fun the last half hour of the game was, but it took ORL dropping to 10 for it to start. Up until that point we basically fell into our age-old habit of just “horseshoe” attacking… pass to the wing, pass up the wing, pass back down the wing, pass across to a CB, then do the same thing to the other side, before ultimately going back to Guz or sending a hopeless cross into a box with zero ATL shirts. We just lack creative decision-making, which is because of Deila’s tactics, Deila’s formation, Deila’s instructions, or some combo. I still think he’s a bad fit here until he can string an impressive run together.
Also – if you watch the post-game locker room speech, I think it’s still clear that he doesn’t have their respect yet. There are some awkward reactions and at one point, Klich even gives a light-hearted jab of “first time I agree.” They still aren’t on the same page with him.
Love the “we could be demanding more” comment on Mira when he was directly involved in all 3 goals last night but complete silence on LL not having any GA in 9 games for $22 mil…
Yeah, sorry that one game where he contributed didn’t completely satisfy against his lack of contributions over half a season.
I don’t necessarily disagree with you on ELL, though. I didn’t type it out originally, but I have felt Thiare has been in general more effective and I wonder if we should just see if $22 million encourages him to be our star striker instead lol.
On the “horse shoe passing” it’s like we are scared to skip a pass and switch the field of play quickly even when the possibility is there to do it in a relatively safe risk free moment. It makes us too slow, plodding, and lets the other team get behind the ball. That in conjunction with our seemingly being scare to play a through ball on the counter has led to the uninspired offensive play we have watched all season.
It’s frustrating how that’s been a struggle for us all the way back to when Frank De Boer joined.
Klich has been openly critical of himself this season, so when Ronny was praising him and asked if he disagreed that he did well, I think that’s what he meant by “first time I agree”. Also, he was the menace who got that red for Orlando, so 10/10 from him imo, though I agree he hasn’t been good up to this point.
I know we’ve had a lot of Klich haters on this site, and I haven’t been too impressed either even though I had an idea of what he brought to the pitch. I hope others saw what he brings now…grit and disruption. Also, look at his movements around the pitch, none of the other players in that midfield move around as much as he does, getting into spaces.
He truly pissed off orlando in many ways, and good…good for him. Without him, that game wasn’t going to be win, quote me on that. I still want to see more from him before giving him any kind of medal, but still, that’s the version of him we should see on the pitch as a starter or sub and some of that needs to rub off on others. Get in the other team’s head, make them make mistakes, and then capitalize.
Klich got us those 3 points. We were never going to break them down 11v11, and after the red, their heads weren’t in the game anymore — Klich was in theirs.
I don’t know that is a sustainable strategy though. If we need him to come off the bench to muck up a game in that very particular role maybe but otherwise he seems a little too slow and a little too likely to get himself sent off or concede a penalty without providing much going forward for my liking.
Yeah, if we are going to hinge our game strategy on “see if Klich can mentalist an opponent into getting himself a red card and maybe we can beat 10 men with 11,” I think we should explore other options lol
It’s not sustainable as is, but there’s nothing that says we couldn’t get some of that to rub off onto others on the team.
I think you guys have covered most of it already but one impressive aspect was how the crowd brought the team back from defeat. Yes, the subs helped but the crowd really pushed us forward. Brought back memories from the 2017-18 environment. This game took me through a whole range of emotions, from total despair to overwhelming elation. My section was jumping all over and hugging each other after that go ahead goal. We need more of this fun.
Better offense (although still disjointed at times) – Miggy and Miranchuk working together better (and Miranchuk played better than he had anytime earlier this year, and that is encouraging!). Thiare is a great super sub – I’m glad we have him on the squad. Fortune did not play well, and the defense was shakier this match than on Sunday – don’t know when Gregersen will be healthy enough to play a full match (and hopefully more than one match), but we need a stronger back line (I feel bad for Williams, but the goal was clearly on him).
We need at least a great CB. Hopefully we are looking.
Someone explain to my why the intentional pass back to the keeper was not called 2 games in a row? From the stands, that felt incredibly blatant. Also, why did Pareja get the red?
My guess is because “intent” is really hard to determine or prove. The way the defender hit the ball last night looked like he was attempting a desperation/play-it-safe clearance out behind goal, but it wasn’t great contact and ended up heading straight at Galese.
The previous one was because the intent was a pass to another field player and he dummied it instead of playing it. The intent wasn’t for the keeper.
All that said, I think this makes the rule almost unenforceable – and they should just consider changing it to be anything beyond a deflection, regardless of intent.
Miranchuk had a good game
I agree we need to tweak the “7 outside 3 inside” possession attack with more runners at the top of the box and our play makers coming short. The problem this game Orlando never came out of their shell because we didn’t show them any combination play or attack patterns once we entered their final third it was more of the aimless crosses into the box. Miggy dropped way too deep tonight I don’t know why RD went away from JF play making and connecting like he did on Sunday.
Orlando didn’t fear our attack because we were content with passing it around between the “7”
Taking more shots from outside the box would help.
1) Miranchuk playing more like a DP tonight was encouraging
2) Latte Lath should switch to #22 to remind everyone how badly the FO got fleeced
3) That was the worst production I’ve seen from Apple since season 1
1 and 3, yes. Dunno about 2… I think he’s just having some rough form.
RD needs to let him play more advance versus having him drop or play as a target forward. It’s the setup not him, RD is showing to be more pragmatic then expected he is handcuffing our creativity with this stale setup
No on 2. We do nothing to take advantage of his speed (judging from last night only, really – I haven’t watched many full games this year). I say give him more time.
even though LL has not scored in recent matches, he definitely keeps defenders on their toes and presses well. He’s only had a handful of touches in recent matches and he’s not gotten many balls playing to his strengths. He’s been getting only lofted balls easily defended by taller CB’s or overcooked crosses. Once we start putting low on the turf through balls, we’ll see him shine. Don’t know why we don’t play those kind of passes more often. I like LL.
I would argue that he needs to make better runs and work on his positioning. When Mira released Saba last night he took a glance into the box and neither Miggy or Late were even near the box.
I agree, LL needs to make better runs and out play the defense, he’s not doing that. He’s standing around waiting for service, and that’s just not going to happen without a strong midfield (which we lack). He can’t just look for crosses.
Good result but it was a god damn mess. We’re too static and boring too often. Maybe should have let Orlando have more of the ball? Probably not, but this team will not break down a low block. We definitely need the chaos.
Goals change games. Their early goal allowed them to sit deep.
Yep agreed. It still looks like we have never played with each other and are out of sync.
I had other events so I only caught last 10+stoppage, and highlights. Watching the replay now. I got the impression that Miranchuk might have had a man of the match performance? He was involved in all 3 goals.
That man Miranchuk has stood up like no man’s business. He was spreading passes around like prime Iniesta. He was turning well under pressure. And he played some really good balls to set up the goals as you said.
Just finished the first half. Watching knowing the final result, we didn’t play too bad in the first half, pretty even. Plenty of great chances, Miranchuk created a lot. Almiron not as much but ok. Orlando really only got 3, maybe 4 good chances in that first half, two of which they scored, and at least one of which we gifted them.
finally got to the second half. I’ll echo some other comments made, but also take a bit of a nuance to it – game state forgives some of the issues early second half; it’s hard for any team to break down a low block, nevermind a team only starting to figure itself out vs a team that’s been doing very well. But also, the way you basically have to break down a low block is lots of movement, quick incisive passing, and grit fighting for second balls and creating chaos, as the apple announcer put it. We weren’t doing enough of that the first 15 minutes of the second half, but once we made the first 3 subs, there was a lot more of that. Amador made some good movements on the left, especially when Mosquera also came in, Klich and Slisz stepped to up do some gritty winning second balls after chaos.
I think Klich didn’t add to much in terms of play, but what he did very well was manage game state. You could tell even before the red card he was starting to manage mentality of the players around him. Slisz started to help with that too.
Let’s. Go.
I give praise to Saba and Slisz for playing all 90 (or 100) and giving all to the end (plus an assist or two and a goal)
Miranchuk had a great game even with the couple of wayward passes. He is improving.
Hopefully Deila has found his preferred structure/formation because the team seems to be doing better.
Big negative was the “pass” from the Williams. Just not good, but hey, he’s allowed to misstep too
Dunno why you got downvoted, ur spitting facts.
I’ll provide the appropriate upvotes for all.
Love to beat those f***ers!
Coach made some good subs and adjustments
I’m sure you hated it when “Slitz” and Miranchuk both scored lol
The journey and the destination both were wildly entertaining
YES!!!
Lot’s of talk but all miss the main point..Orlando with an incredibly stupid red card handed this game to ATL…no way in hell ATL wins without it. Orlando was clearly the superior team up until then…nothing else really matters..that was it..Full stop
There is really NO way to be able to ascertain this. Soccer has no logic; just because a team is stronger, it doesn’t mean that team will win