Doug Roberson's ratings for Atlanta United's players from Friday's 4-3 loss against LAFC at Banc of California Stadium:
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, 6: Finished with six saves, none of them easy. ... Dealt with LAFC's 13 corner kicks. ... Big stop in the 28th minute of a curling effort that looked destined to find the corner. ... Beaten to the near post by a hard shot from Adama Diomande. ... Saved a free kick by Carlos Vela in the 57th minute. ...
Centerback Miles Robinson, 6: LIke most of Atlanta United's players in the first half, he didn't stand out in the first half and for a small stretch in the second half. ... Finished with three tackles.
Centerback Franco Escobar, 5: Made a smart, curling run from the top of the penalty box to the back post to get to the free kick on the opening goal. ... His foul caused the penalty kick and LAFC's third goal, though replays showed it was clearly a dive by Vela and it also wasn't clear it happened in the penalty box. ... For whatever reason, not the same player as last year.
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, 4: Probably could have done more to stop Diomande's opener. ... Another mistake contributed to LAFC's second goal. ... Yellow card in the 56th minute means he will miss the next game against the L.A. Galaxy. ... Much better in the second half, but by then the damage was done.
Right wingback Julian Gressel, 7: Excellent free kick led to the first goal. ... Passed up a shot in the second half from an area from which he has scored most of his goals. ... Put Josef Martinez into space a couple of times in the second half. ... Created five chances.
Left wingback Mo Adams, 6: Scored his first goal for Atlanta United to give the team a 1-0 lead in the second minute. ... Had chances at two crosses. Neither were good.
Defensive Eric Remedi, 5: Didn’t close down LAFC quickly enough in the first half.
Defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe, 5: Took a hard cross to the head in the first half. ... Also didn't close down LAFC quickly enough in the first half. ... Really not as involved the offense as he has been the previous two games.
Midfielder Emerson Hyndman, 5: A very quiet game with just 38 touches that didn't include a chance created and just one shot.
Striker Pity Martinez, 5: His first start after being used a sub the previous two games. ... Flubbed a good opportunity in the first half to give Atlanta United a 2-0 lead. ... A rough start to the beginning of the second half with several giveaways. ... Created a good chance to Julian Gressel in the second half. That was it. ... Completed eight of his 14 passes. ...Will be interesting to see if he starts the next game if Brandon Vazquez is healthy enough to go. ...
Striker Josef Martinez, 6: Scored in the eighth consecutive league game to cut LAFC's lead to 4-2 near the end of the first half. ... Missed two chances near the end of the game to tie it.
SUBS
Justin Meram (on for Adams, 46), 6: Created the own goal
Ezequiel Barco (on for P. Martinez, 59), 5: His first minutes since Aug. 5. Looked OK in creating one chance.
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