Let’s try this again.
Atlanta United looks to improve on a season opening 2-0 loss in Cincinnati last weekend as they head out to San Jose for only the second time in club history to pay a visit to PayPal Park and the San Jose Earthquakes for the first time since the infamous Five Stripes After Dark incident of 2018, when Atlanta came back from an improbable 3-1 deficit (4-1, at one point) to win 4-3.
It wasn’t a total surprise to have a Tata Martino led Atlanta United team come away empty handed in the first match of the season, especially against a Concacaf Champions Cup side, but the Five Stripes still showed some level of competence in most areas that weren’t related to chance creation or finishing. The match also saw Cooper Sanchez impress in a surprise start in place of a recovering Alexey Miranchuk, only the second MLS start for the 17 year old. Still, Atlanta fell victim to a familiar plot line, and conceded twice in the final fifteen minutes of regulation to lose 2-0.
Now, the Five Stripes look ahead to another road match, this time fully across the country against Bruce Arena’s San Jose Earthquakes. The Quakes are fresh off of a 3-0 home victory, albeit against a Spoon-favorite Sporting Kansas City team. Atlanta will get some instant comparison to where they stand relative to the league’s projected bottom dwellers, but things won’t be quite the same for San Jose as they were last week.
Champions League and Club World Cup winner Timo Werner is set to make his debut tonight, because of course he is against Atlanta, as San Jose’s newest Designated Player after joining the team and being cleared to play this week. He’ll be the focal point of the team after they hilariously and accidently rid themselves of star player Cristian Espinoza, and lost the tag team striker duo of Josef Martinez and Chicho Arango in the offseason. Whether he starts or not, all eyes will be on the 29 year old German striker, even if he hasn’t found the back of the net since October of 2024.
Looking to Atlanta’s own Designated Players, we should see Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almiron start together for the first time under Tata. Will the two be as complimentary as they were touted to be in preseason by Atlanta’s manager? Add to that Latte Lath’s pressure to perform only growing as the season progresses- can he find his footing all the way out in California?
The same injury report as last week is in effect for Atlanta United: Will Reilly (hamstring), Jay Fortune (foot), and Dominik Chong Qui (knee) are all unavailable for selection due to injury.
As we prepare for kickoff from PayPal Park, familiarize yourself with this weekend’s matchup with our preview articles below:
Atlanta United at San Jose Earthquakes preview, lineups, injuries, score prediction
All you need to know as Atlanta United takes on the San Jose Earthquakes on Matchday 2.
Atlanta United at San Jose Earthquakes: 3 questions with Tectonic Takes
Insight on the San Jose Earthquakes from Tectonic Takes as Timo Werner could make his MLS debut against Atlanta United.
Tune in this evening at 7:30 PM (not quite After Dark this time around) on Apple TV for live broadcasting of the match. No MLS Season Pass required this year, if you’ve missed the news. Audio only options can be found on 92.9 The Game in English and La Mejor in Spanish.
Y’all ready to find out if Atlanta can maintain their perfect all-time 4-0-0 record against San Jose? Let’s do it.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
San Jose Earthquakes’ Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: PayPal Park, San Jose, California
Kickoff Time: Saturday, February 28th, 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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To quote on of the best lines of all movie making
“Oh no we suck again”
The Waterboy
The worst thing about this game is there was absolutely no improvement at all from the first game. Maybe even regression.
What’s the odds we lose 2 – nil at home next week?
80%
Looks like this is setting up to be another really painful season to watch
Wow our team is terrible. Our defense is slow, our GK keeps making terrible decisions, we can’t build up worth a crap and the few times we do manage to our forwards flub any chance they get.
Well said sadly
TELL ME WHY THE HECK YOUR CENTER BACK IS TAKING A FREE KICK WE HAVE MIRANCHUK!!!
You beat me to this post.
It’s genuinlly bizzare man. Just crazy.
I think Miranchuk doesn’t look bad today. Don’t understand why he didn’t start.
Tired defenders falling apart after getting run into the ground with no offensive threat seems to be the issue.
Radio guys saying he is not 90 minutes fit.
They whiffed so hard on Lathe. And Miranchuk (but he’s less of a disaster).
Miggy probably also a bad idea given the drop off, but he might look better with some kind of supporting cast.
This might take a while to rebuild a competitive team. There are just so many holes in this roster.
How often does a team have THREE bad DPs? I feel like that has to be a unicorn situation, but not the rainbow and sunshine kind of unicorn.
If this coach does not make any changes..and put better players on the field to start…it clear ..he is as horrible as the last coach…and very bias
If Hernandez starts over Edward’s, If the shit goalie start over Hibbert, if do not get a better CAM..or CDM…it going to be more shit games where look exactly like last year…which the worst..feel like I wasted 2 Saturday watch this shit
I am so glad I didn’t buy tickets for the opener yet – I don’t need to pay to get angry. On a positive note , at least I got Apple TV for a year for $99
Game over. Terrible sart to the season
Great play then.
Ball movement a little better..we need to keep pressuring and pressing up
Jacob wasted at RB. Only effective midfielder in the night. Why not bring Edwards in for Hernandez and leave Jacob where he was? Muyumba is not the answer. He never was. He never will be.
This team plays ugly AND bad soccer – double threats
Amazing that with all the personnel changes we look like the exact same team as last year
Oh great. Muyumba.
So much standing around.
They are my MLS team also..good energy does not win games..good quality from professionals with skills and good ball movement is what we need. Does not seem to be much improvement from last year. Hernandez and Saba are doing nothing different from last year..yet they start..why? Hibbert prove he should be next up..yet we got this goalie…#4,#6 we not good in the air and seem slow.but they start..why?..if we see it how does a paid rofessional coach not see it..and start the same exact team from last week..with no change…hmmm
The last time our offense felt dangerous Rob Valentino was coach
it would be nice if we can at least reach 1 xG even if we can’t score
Hoyos is known for his distribution? Did I just hear that?
I mean, he looked really good in preseason with moving the ball around the pitch and was picked by Tata for this reason. The mistake was really bizzare.
Just not in a good way?
I really think the guys are missing the basics. I want to cheer for the team but this is so far away from attractive soccer. I will not give un up after all it’s “my” MLS team. Yet I really wish they would get their game together. Let’s send them some good energy for the second half.
at least we are only down by 1?
And we’re about to start the 2nd half which, has been dreadful for us for longer than I care to think.
We suck.
This the worst ball movement..we are stuck passing to the keeper.like he is the player maker..are these player tied to Tata…how in the fuck..are these players makiing the field..before Edward’s, Hibbert, Fortune..Greigesen..seeing a pattern ..that seems bias..
Nobody moving on offense. Just four attackers standing motionless on the 18.
Defense is incredibly disorganized. Where is Edwards? Where Amador? Where Gregerson?
Replaced by Tata’s signings…
We’re so sloppy with the ball, which was a problem last year. We’ve heard that Tata is working on it, but he’s got a long way to go.
Getting schooled
This is painful.
That was Hoyos second ball straight to SJ under no pressure. And on top of that, pitiful effort to save he goal.
How in the world do they ever rate Hoyos over Hibbert?
Ridiculous.
What are they seeing that he’s better than hibbert?!?!
Hoyos is South American, Hibbert is not. Tata has always had a strong bias towards South American players
He’s looked really bad on 2 of the three goals we’ve conceded so far this season.
This backliine cannot seem to get the fucking ball to the mids
So I was not wrong unfortunately
Hoyos with fucking tragic “distribution” on that goal. Hibbert should be starting.
To be fair, it was a perfect pass… just the wrong team 🙂
Great assist Lucas.
Like I said ..this keeper..is crap
Hoyos with an absolute howler
JFC Hoyos is trash.
Yeah, what in the absolute hell. Why are we not playing our young, talented goalie
This is pitiful
Latte Lath has got to score that. I looked at a highlight of Josef scoring something similar the other day. We need a reliable striker who can score chances like that.
I am shock that SJ has not scored yet
This roster is a disaster. How far we’ve fallen.
Hernandez should not be starting over Edwards..and this goalie should not be starting over Hibbert
Hoyos def. gives me the yikes.
Awful start.
Welp, this is going to be another game that gets turned off at half….
I’ll give Saba one more start, but what I saw from him last week was pitiful
Color me pessimistic.
Am I trippin or do they keep putting Will Reilly’s photo on Jacob’s name in the lineup on Apple TV?
Was just about to say that. Thought that it was just last week as it was opening game day, but they still made that mistake today. That’s Apple for ya.
I saw that too.
Welp, here’s hoping the performance is better, because the lineup isn’t changing.
I’ll say what I said last week. If Alexei isn’t in the gameplan, then he should be gone
Let’s go 5 Stripes!!