Atlanta United had a 1-0 lead…until they didn’t. Instead, it’s a 3-2 loss to Charlotte FC on a night that all but closed the book on any playoff hopes Atlanta had for the 2025 season.
The player ratings, as you might imagine, weren’t great. As a reminder, here’s the ratings scale:
- 10 – world-class performance
- 9 – elite performance
- 6 – average
- 5 – slightly below average
- 3 – well below average
- 1 – poor in every level
Note: There were a couple of difficulties with the form, so Derrick Williams and Brooks Lennon were accidentally left off. For them, I’ve put their Fotmob rating.
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Man of the Match
Bartosz Slisz
Staff rating: 7.5 | Community rating: 6.6
Bartek has been on a different level for Atlanta United. Put aside his assist on Tristan Muyumba’s goal for a second and fast forward to the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, when he made a full sprint downfield to take the ball off the feet of Idan Toklomati. That determination is what Atlanta’s been desperate for this entire season.
Brad Guzan
Staff rating: 5 | Community rating: 3.6
The community rating was sensationally harsh on Brad. I’d say he was definitely hung out to dry by his defenders on the first and third goals, and maybe could have done more on the second one. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Ronald Hernandez
Staff rating: 6 | Community rating: 4
Ronald was another player who received harsh treatment in our community ratings, but his movement and combination play with Miguel Almiron on the right side was good. He certainly wasn’t befitting of a 4 rating on this night.
Derrick Williams
Staff rating: 4.5 | Fotmob rating: 6.8
Really tough night for Williams who, despite playing the entire match, wasn’t sharp when he needed to. Credit to him for taking responsibilty afterwards, but a player of his experience has to be much better than he was on Saturday.
Efrain Morales
Staff rating: 6.5 | Community rating: 6
Another good evening for Efra, and it’s incredible how the match turned around almost immediately after he was substituted out. As it turns out, the first half was the last we may see of him in an Atlanta United kit as he’s reportedly on his way to CF Montreal.
Matt Edwards
Staff rating: 5 | Community rating: 4
Decent night for Matt, but some of his defensive deficiencies were on display in the second half. Part of that, though, was him being asked to play center back in place of Morales. I’d also love to see him be more confident in the buildup and take the space ahead of him.
Tristan Muyumba
Staff rating: 6.8 | Community rating: 6.2
Much better performance for Tristan, who put home a pretty header on a great ball in by Slisz for his first MLS goal and had a good look at a second goal later. The problem is consistency and putting together regular strong performances.
Luke Brennan
Staff rating: 6 | Community rating: 5.7
Excellent first MLS start for Luke Brennan. He looked good on the left wing and genuinely looked to create for the attack from there. Hopefully more to come for the 20-year-old.
Miguel Almiron
Staff rating: 7 | Community rating: 5.5
A good showing for Miggy as he continues to show his creativity and ability to make the necessary runs. It’s not translated into goals as much as anyone would like, but it’s really not for lack of trying.
Alexey Miranchuk
Staff rating: 5 | Community rating: 4.4
This moment was one of several that frustrated me about Miranchuk’s play on Saturday, and really, much of his time with Atlanta: Late in the second half, he had the ball at his feet with a window of space to play Latte Lath through on goal. Rather than pass, he slowed the entire attack down. That’s on top of him getting on the end of a perfect cross from Ronald Hernandez in the 10th minute and instead of taking on his defender, he pulls it out of the box. Just baffling.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
Staff rating: 6 | Community rating: 5
Does get a boost in his score for scoring late to make things interesting for Atlanta United. That said, it was his only shot on target the entire night. He had a chance at a goal earlier in the evening but was never able to get a shot off, the story of much of his season.
Substitutes
Pedro Amador (46′)
Staff rating: 4.5 | Community rating: 4
Was caught ball watching on the third goal, leaving Pep Biel too much time and space to score for Charlotte. On the first goal, beaten by a nice touch by Kerwin Vargas on the right, slipped, and couldn’t recover.
Brooks Lennon (72′)
Staff rating: 5.5 | Fotmob rating: 6.4
The right side lost a bit of quality when Lennon moved over there. However, while he did what he could to defend Souleyman Doumbia in the buildup to Charlotte’s third goal, I don’t really put him at fault.
Jamal Thiare (72′)
Staff rating: 5.5 | Community rating: 5
A good shift for Jamal, I thought, as he found himself in some good areas but just wasn’t able to square up the ball just right to get it in the net.
Saba Lobjanidze (72′)
Staff rating: 5.5 | Community rating: 4.1
Saba didn’t do a ton in his spell of time on the field, his biggest moment coming in the 83rd minute when he went for a long-range shot instead of going for a simple pass into the box with Latte Lath in a pocket of space to receive it.
Luis Abram (84′)
Staff rating: 6 | Community rating: 4
Like Guzan, remarkably harsh for Abram, especially given that he played six minutes plus stoppage time.
How many community participants were there on this one? I’ve gotten to the point where I am so pissed after these games that I cannot read the post game summary for some time after. The ratings are all over though. Lennon scoring a 6.4 is way to high. Brennan was very dangerous in the first half and should be higher. Williams was pretty poor, while Miggy was more dangerous than he has been since rejoining. Still not where he needs to be as a DP, which I assume was part of the scrutiny.
Like you mentioned, it’s mostly emotional (I can’t read them either, so I have to compose myself and be objective before I think about commenting) and if you put out a poll right after a loss, it’ll rank lower than you expect. Not to mention, ranking individuals in a sport that requires 11 on the field is very difficult to do objectively. Like how do you properly rank a holding mid…because he…held? Not all backs focus on defense or offense solely and both require support (crosses/through balls in the attack or CB’s to help with overlaps/overloads on defense). Should the goalie be responsible for all conceded goals?
Either way, watching the game on broadcast vs. in person will heavily weigh on how you rank people too. I saw Saba getting into dangerous positions that the mid/def never saw and didn’t get him the ball in time. Should that be a hit against defense/mids or him since he didn’t see the ball much.
The end result here is we need them all to be playing at a higher level than they are, this isn’t what $50m produces no matter what league you’re in.
I am so confused as to what Slizs actual first name is.
Slisz has grit and determination that give him a lot of nods. Still don’t think we’re utilizing him to his fullest, but I like that he is grinding and trying. All you can truly ask for right now.
Guzan looked a bit off, but I don’t think those goals were completely his fault. That was on the defense.
Williams is clearly the CB leader back there directing the ball and movement, but the switching off at times is hurting us. Not enough to say move on from him because we do need leadership, but it’s hard to judge on one game. Our whole team isn’t getting direction so picking out individual performances in an 11 player game is hard to do sometimes.
Morales did great, but that point is moot. He’s gone anyways.
Edwards looked lost again. Lots of side & back passes, not really progressing the ball, no real connection up the wing. He doesn’t have the confidence our other backs have a times.
Muyumba I want to see with the ball more often and not just to turn and pass. I want him owning that midfield but he doesn’t fall into spaces as often as I think he should. Had good opportunities so it’s hard to fault him much, but the midfield should dictate the pace of the game and that didn’t happen as much.
Brennan looked good taking on defenders and trying to find space. He also was constantly making runs, which I want to see from the wingers instead of just sitting there on the outside. Wish our D/M saw him more and played those through balls (and not overcooking them to the end line).
Almiron – man it’s hard to say good things about him right now because he’s not the same guy we all knew and loved. He gets on the ball, sometimes it makes it way where it should, but he sometimes looks lost and not in control. I just don’t see him as a winger, maybe i’m the only one, it’s just tough since he is clearly one who needs to control the ball and we don’t have anyone in our midfield who wants to do that.
Alexey still isn’t our 10…like posted, lots of lost opportunities. Several left footed shot opportunities not taken (which are some of his most glorious goals too)…
LL needs to get rid of his two left feet. Man, i’ve never seen someone ready to run a 40 before even touching the ball first. He needs control, he needs to be a bit more composed. He’s hyper and itchy, and I understand, but where are the runs and making defenders question him? No one fears him.
Amador/Lennon – I still don’t think they’re being utilized to their fullest. No real threats, no real progression, nothing. Remember, Lennon has been Mr. Consistent and Amador put in chef’s kiss crosses all last [end of] season. We’re not seeing either of them do that or take on the opposing defense. What is their position? up and back passes between the CB’s?
Saba was left out to dry many times. The number of times I saw him ready to make a horizontal run up to the defense where a simple cross (again from amador) would have been great back sided goals just never happened. He is visibly frustrated and for good reason.
Abram does the best job moving the ball up field and pushing the opposing forwards back to their side…we don’t see this much from our other CB’s. short of this, I don’t recall much else from this specific game.
Deila needs to coach and direct. Create a system utilizing their strengths not trying to fit square pegs in round holes.