Atlanta United players hope crosses turn into goals

After Atlanta United’s training session Tuesday, Jake Mulraney, Ronald Hernandez and Alex de John, along with two assistant coaches, stayed behind to work on crosses.

Mulraney and Hernandez put in early crosses. They would go to the end line and put in chipped crosses. They would put in low crosses. They would stop about 9 yards from the end line and put in crosses.

This went on for 30 minutes.

ExploreMore AJC coverage of Atlanta United

“It’s an integral part of our attack,” fullback Andrew Gutman said. “I wouldn’t say it’s one of our main points to attack, but it’s definitely something that we’re trying to utilize. And we’re trying to get better at just putting in good crosses, good service.”

Atlanta United has attempted the fourth-most crosses (113) in MLS this season. It has completed the second-most crosses (24) into the opponent’s penalty box. But the team is mired in a four-game slump in which it has scored only two goals. Both came from corner kicks, the first by Marcelino Moreno to secure a 1-0 win at D.C. United and the second was the first goal by Ronaldo Cisneros in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Miami.

In the past four games, the team has put in 76 crosses, not including corner kicks. The hope is the crosses eventually will turn into goals instead of frustration by some of the team’s supporters on social media.

“I wouldn't say it's one of our main points to attack, but it's definitely something that we're trying to utilize. And we're trying to get better at just putting in good crosses, good service."

- Atlanta United fullback Andrew Gutman

“I think it’s because (when) we get in the areas, a lot people expect us to connect every single time, and you’ve also got to remember that the defense is also doing their job to stop it,” Gutman said. “And it’s not going to come off every time. But if we can just maybe get four or five more connected crosses, I think it will make a huge difference for us.”

The area of the field is described as primary assist zones by manager Gonzalo Pineda. It’s the area just outside the penalty box near the end line. Starting right fullback Brooks Lennon said Tuesday that across world soccer, most goals came from those areas.

So that is why Atlanta United’s fullback constantly gets forward and typically tries to reach the end line before hitting a cross, rather than put in an early cross from higher up the field.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t scored as many goals as we’d like to,” Lennon said. “And that’s something that we’re going to continue to work on, on the practice field. And hopefully, it’ll come in the games.”

Gutman said he thinks it’s better that the team is creating opportunities than if it wasn’t generating any offense. He said a key to improving the probability of scoring may be just to slow down and look up before the cross is played.

“It’s just kind of when we get in those areas, picking out the man, whether it’s a cutback, whether it’s a chip to the back post, whether it’s hard across the 6 (yard box), that’s what we have to decide,” he said. “And, frankly, we have to get a little bit better at it.”

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found

Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C

Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3

If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today, you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. Sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.

Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule

Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1

March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0

March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1

March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3

April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0

April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0

April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0

April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

April 30 at Montreal, 4 p.m., BSSO/BSSE

May 7 vs. Chicago, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE

May 15 vs. New England, 1:30 p.m., ESPN