Although the entire 2025 season has been embarrassing, Atlanta United spared itself even further humiliation after a 1-1 draw against visiting D.C. United assured that the Five Stripes would not finish dead last in MLS.
With its elimination from the playoffs confirmed weeks ago, Atlanta was really only playing for its honor and to give Brad Guzan the best sendoff possible.
With its players back from international duty, Atlanta United’s starting XI featured a much more full-strength lineup than it had at Inter Miami last weekend. Longtime goalkeeper and captain, Brad Guzan, got the start in his final match before retirement. Meanwhile, Pedro Amador, Juan Berrocal, Enea Mihaj, and Ronald Hernandez made up the backline. Steven Alzate and Bartosz Slisz were the midfield pairing of choice, while Alexey Miranchuk played at the No. 10. Finally, Miguel Almiron, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Luke Brennan made up the front three.
The Five Stripes got off to a quick start after Miguel Almiron latched onto a failed clearance with a low-driven volley. With that, the 31-year-old Paraguayan international moved up to six goals and seven assists in the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
As the minutes ticked by, the visitors appeared to grow into the game. They began creating more chances and even getting some dangerous shots off, forcing some saves from Guzan. Finally, the tying goal came in the 67th minute. Guzan, after making an initial save on Christian Benteke’s shot, couldn’t keep Gabriel Pirani’s ensuing attempt.
Despite the Five Stripes pushing to get the three points at the end, the game-winner just would not come, giving a fitting end to a disappointing season.
Just like that, Atlanta United’s 2025 is over, and the lead-up to 2026 begins. With the offseason upon us, we at Scarves and Spikes will have you covered with all of the latest info on the Five Stripes. Stay tuned for more!
What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments below.
Really pissed at Apple TV. When they started, the result was presented on the “button” to watch any game to watch later. Idiotic. It took many months for them to give you the ability to dismiss the crazy default in your account. The photographic “buttons” of might still get the result of the match away. Tonight, I was looking forward to the early start of tonight’s games. Planned for the Atlanta match, and a couple more on replay from Decision Day. A nice full evening of soccer! Then the f$&ng commentators constantly did live scores and more from other matches going on!!! My soccer night was ruined.
It’s always been like that. After all, it’s Decision Day, so yeah, all the results matter to each other for the final standings, and it’s just expected that the commentators will be discussing that.
If there isn’t a major turnover in personnel in the offseason, then we can expect more of the same in 2026. This is just an objectively bad team. One stat that kept showing on the halo board is we had ZERO successful dribbles for most if not all the game.
Definitely need major turnover (including the Manager) – Alexei and Muyumba definitely need to go, probably Saba and Lennon also, and maybe Gregerson (since he is always injured). Hoping an offseason will allow ELL to come back fresh since he was effectively invisible tonight. Will be watching the offseason to see what happens.
What a boring ass match. A perfect ending to a shit season.
The team has been so goddamned *aimless* in possession all season–and that’s absolutely on Deila–that all their matches have been boring. Deila’s level is the Jupiler League; I have no idea how or why Lagerwey thought it’d be a good idea to hire him.
It’s one thing to be bad; it’s another thing entirely to not even be interesting. Too much talent on the roster for this to be anything other than the coach’s fault.
Well let’s just say we have officially bottomed out, so only where to go is to go up from here.
or sideways.
We can technically still go lower.
It can always get worse, for sure. Hopefully it will not.