Another year, another short Leagues Cup campaign.
After a 3-2 loss to Pumas UNAM in its second Leagues Cup match, Atlanta United cannot earn enough points to finish within the top four MLS clubs in Phase One of the tournament. The result also extends the Five Stripes’ winless streak to 10 across all competitions.
Ronny Deila made a few tweaks to the lineup that fell 3-1 to Necaxa on Wednesday. Enea Mihaj got his first Atlanta United start as a left center back in place of Derrick Williams, who was left off the matchday roster due to load management. Brooks Lennon started at left back presumably to keep Ronald Hernandez on the right, where he has been connecting very well with Miguel Almiron and Alexey Miranchuk. Finally, Saba Lobjanidze and Emmanuel Latte Lath returned to the starting XI at left wing and striker, respectively.
Although the Five Stripes started the game off brightly, it took a big hit early after Brooks Lennon fouled Pedro Vite inside the box. Alvaro Angulo converted the ensuing penalty kick and gave Pumas a 1-0 lead after 23 minutes.
Facing certain elimination with another loss, Atlanta United had to find a way to claw back into the game. It found exactly that as Bartosz Slisz found Saba Lobjanidze at the endline with a lovely chip before the Georgian winger fired at goal, resulting in a Keylor Navas own goal to tie the game at 1-1.
The Five Stripes’ momentum continued as Miguel Almiron played Lobjanidze into space with a lovely through ball. Then the Georgian winger sent in a low cross that Latte Lath finished easily to put Atlanta ahead after 43 minutes.
But Atlanta’s second half woes returned. Coco Carrasquilla leveled the game again in the 62nd minute after having plenty of time to receive the ball inside the box, stop it, aim his shot and fire into the top corner.
And the all too familiar collapse was complete after Ronald Hernandez fouled an attacking Pumas player inside the box and gave away another penalty. Coco Carrasquilla’s effort hit off the post before he put the rebound away with ease.
But the drama didn’t stop there! Pumas’ goalkeeper Keylor Navas received a straight red card in stoppage time for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. Besides having to play the final minutes of the match down a man, the LIGA MX giants also had to put a field player in goal because they had no substitutions remaining. Despite this, Atlanta couldn’t spark some magic at the end.
Atlanta United will wrap up its Leagues Cup campaign when it returns home to face former manager Gonzalo Pineda and his Atlas FC side (also eliminated from Leagues Cup) on Wednesday, August 6 at 7:30 pm.
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What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments and fill out your player ratings below or click this link.
I still want to see more from Miranchuk. When our 10 isn’t getting on the ball often enough, the other team is controlling the play. Still don’t think he’s our 10.
Reilly continues to impress, need to see him more in the games.
Slisz is still impressing me.
Hernandez and Miggy still sync well, though it’s clear there is still some more to go there.
I understand Saba/Lennon connection, but they’re right side and not left side and it showed. We have a conflict of players in similar positions. We need proper left wing/left backs. Brennan does well, but he still needs to show his aggressiveness in the attack.
Latte, the man with 2 left feet, looks like a fresh born deer out there. Come on now.
Big fan of Guzan, but he’s been struggling lately. It’s clear this should probably be his last year.
Our next game against Atlas should be our young kids. Let them all start. Game doesn’t matter, give them the minutes.
[…] Atlanta United to miss Leagues Cup knockouts after loss to Pumas […]
Great! Does this mean I won’t be automatically charged for these tickets?
(Checks season ticket holder portal).
Oh, I was? F&$! Okay. Cool.
So now we are playing our next match in a useless tourney in hopes we … don’t have any major injuries? F&$! Okay.
Can we just forfeit? I’m okay with just gifting Pineda the W. Gawd I hate Leagues Cup. Not cool.
Im sorry but the biggest Pineda hater also being the biggest Leagues Cup hater facing a Leagues Cup match against Pineda in which both sides are already eliminated is just peak comedy.
The bad part is since Deila got a red card, it wont be a Deila v Pineda showdown. Which lets you off the hook in the event Pineda wins, as I feel like an apology would be in order otherwise after you called me a troll earlier in the season for suggesting we bring Pineda as part of a post match assessment of a Deila after a loss earlier this season.
Well, I will apologize anyways for any offense I might have caused you in the past.
My opinion, and that’s all it is, is simply that I don’t like Leagues Cup. And I didn’t like Pineda as a coach for Atlanta United. But, I do think he’s a really nice guy and do wish him the best. I’m not trying to change anyone’s opinion on any of this.
I sincerely would not care if Pineda beats us during this match, especially if we can save every player from any injury or unnecessary fatigue.
I’m not sure what’s funny about thinking this match is a waste of time, with or without Deila.
Just trying to light heartedly point out that I cant think of a worse combination of variables to make this game be any more deflating to you as a fan.
Well that is true. Ha. This match has nothing for me. I would guess I’m not in the minority. There really isn’t anything to this next match, right? We’ll see by attendance.
Maybe, if nothing else, we get some scrimmage time for new player chemistry? I mean, I’m grasping for straws.
No, you’re spot on. This match, as well as every match the rest of regular season really, is effectively “playing with house money” as we liked to say in our FEA run of the 2024 playoff chase – we have nothing to lose by doing literally whatever we want as long as it’s in reasonable effort to help us prep for 2026. Wanna play the kids? Do it. Try some new combos to see who works together well? Go on then. See if our passing accuracy improves by writing “I’m on your team” on everyone’s foreheads? Might as well.