Well, that could’ve gone better.
Tata Martino trotted out the same starting eleven that fell last week to FC Cincinnati 2-0, but was able to (somewhat) hang with one of the top teams in the conference, until the final fifteen minutes. It wasn’t expected, though, for Designated Player Alexey Miranchuk to start on the bench for a second straight match, as he expressed his match fitness in media availability during the week. Instead, a second straight start for 17 year old Cooper Sanchez, who continues to have Tata’s trust in the midfield of a 4-3-3.
Things seemed to regress almost immediately, as San Jose swarmed into Atlanta’s defensive third from the start. Through the first sixteen minutes, San Jose racked up five shots to Atlanta’s zero, and then broke the deadlock in the 24th minute in an agonizing scene for Atlanta United fans. A poor ball from goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos fell right to San Jose’s Jamar Ricketts, who crossed with ease to an unmarked Preston Judd at the doorstep to nod the Quakes into the lead.
At the half, Atlanta had only amassed a paltry 0.16 xG total, per FotMob, to San Jose’s 1.05, fed by three big chances for the hosts. The start to the second half didn’t fare much better for the Five Stripes, with no substitutions made and Atlanta still unable to find an attacking chance of any kind. Miranchuk made an appearance at the hour mark, in for Saba. Oh, and Timo Werner entered for his debut at the same time. That surely won’t come up la… ah shoot.
Werner in the 79th minute picked up a pass on the flank, got past Enea Mihaj on the ball, and sent in a cross to an onrunning Ousseni Bouda, who sped by Tomas Jacob and smashed home the hosts’ second.
Atlanta United never found a foothold in this match, even with a few glimpses of Pedro Amador towards the end in an attacking role, and San Jose grabbed their first ever win against the Five Stripes.
Two consecutive shutout losses to start the season doesn’t provide much mometum (in fact, quite the opposite) for Atlanta as they head into their home opener against Real Salt Lake next weekend on Saturday, March 7th, for a 7:30 pm kickoff.
What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments below… but maybe take a deep breath first.
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I did like seeing amador in that attacking role, he seemed to fit in naturally…wouldn’t mind seeing him there as needed.
I thought he was a little too unclean on the ball for CM, which is where they kinda put him, but I’d be all for him at LW/LM.
Know there were some out there who thought Almiron’s productivity would turn around one we had a manager who was so clueless no to be able to just let him play to his strengths, etc…but I’ll continue to beat the horse…MA is not the answer. He seems like a swell guy. But he’s a shadow of the former player and not the guy to take the reins. At 28%+ of the salary and 12% or so of the cap, that’s a problem. And the choice to bring in someone in place of Hibbert is terrible…brought in for his distribution prowess? Don’t get me wrong, he had some nice saves. We also have a great development opp in Hibbert and could have focused those resources elsewhere. What’s the o/u on the number of games before fans turn on Tata?
Put Hibbert in for Hoyos.
Either buy out Gregersen and get us a fast defender, or put him in; we need some speed on the backline.
Get Galarza or more midfield support ASAP. Jacob at RB might work out better, though I’m not sure that he’s the problem in the midfield 3.
Almiron can’t seem to get an accurate pass in, I don’t know if he’s stuck in his head or what. I almost would prefer Miranchuk in, he at least has accurate passes right now.
I become increasingly convinced LL isn’t the answer here, but I would like to see our build up actually lead to him getting more chances first. We’re not getting to the point where he can take shots yet. But in general we’re not getting the ball to the front 3 in a way where they can actually do anything with it. I don’t know if it’s because our accuracy isn’t good or they just have lead feet and can’t move with any speed or touch.
I don’t know about you guys but Hoyos needs to sit on the bench.
A must win after 2 games seems like a ridiculous statement, but that is what the home opener is turning into. They walk away with anything less, the team and fanbase’s mental state will be seriously damaged. I knew this schedule was one of the worst possible ways to start a season (away to a serious contender and a West coast away trip), but I would have been content with looking competitive and 1 point. Instead, I am left with serious concerns after setting such low expectations.
Ugly Ghastly
Depressing
What do we think attendance at the home opener will look like at this point? I won’t be there because I have to coach my teens team at the same time, but I’m curious. The fact that the organization was giving away tickets and a beer for $25 for the beltline party last week tells me things aren’t looking good from a sales perspective.
Looked like last year’s depressing team without the hopefulness of watching Hibbert develop.