Atlanta United wastes chance to defeat NYCFC, settles for draw

Atlanta United needed just 21 seconds - the time it might take to read and delete an email from your boss - to get a boost of confidence that would have carried it to a victory over NYCFC on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Instead, Atlanta United had to settle for a 2-2 draw because it couldn’t seem to stop making game-changing mistakes on defense and it couldn’t convert more chances when it creates opportunities.

Twenty-one seconds is how long it took Daniel Rios to score and set a franchise record for quickest goal. Saba Lobjanidze followed with another later in the half. Atlanta United seemed primed to snap its four-match losing streak.

However, split-second mistakes by Bartosz Slisz and Brooks Lennon in the second half gifted NYCFC two goal-scoring opportunities that it took advantage of in front of an announced attendance of 42,524.

“I’m angry, I’m upset,” Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino said. “But we have another game on Saturday to go after.”

The dropped points kept Atlanta United (6-11-7) below the playoff line in the East with Columbus next on the schedule.

“I think first half was exactly how we wanted to play, it’s exactly how Rob wants to play,” centerback Derrick Williams said. “As a team, I thought we were very good. And then, second half, like a lot of the season, we came up flat. They were on top for about 20 minutes, and then we had a good chance to make it three-nil. If you don’t take your chances then it just gives the opponent confidence. Then they get their crap goal and then yeah, we’re on the back foot.”

Valentino switched the formation from a back five to a back four because he thought it fit better against the opponent. The lineup consisted of Rios as striker, Lobjanidze, Tristan Muyumba, Xande Silva, Dax McCarty and Slisz as midfielders, Lennon and Ronald Hernandez as fullbacks, Williams and Luis Abram as centerbacks, and Brad Guzan in goal.

Remember the loss at Montreal, when Atlanta United didn’t put a shot on goal for 90 minutes? What happened just five days ago felt like a year on Wednesday because…..

Atlanta United scored 21 seconds into the match when Rios put a shot past Matt Freese. Rios was played in by Lobjanidze, who ran onto a quick pass from Muyumba. It was Rios’ team-leading sixth goal this season, Lobjanidze’s fifth assist and Muyumba’s third. NYCFC hadn’t yet touched the ball before Atlanta United had its lead. The quickness of the goal beat the previous mark of 47 seconds set by Josef Martinez at Orlando on June 30, 2021.

A penalty kick in the 10th minute for Atlanta United was overturned after a lengthy review. Williams either was tripped or dove in the 18-yard box after Silva played a backheeled pass to him. Referee Lukasz Szpala ruled that Silva was offside when he moved back toward the ball, negating the penalty call.

Atlanta United increased its lead to 2-0 in the 38th minute with a close-range goal by Lobjanidze, who was first to reach a loose ball after Freese saved a shot by Silva. Lobjanidze toe-poked the ball into the opposite corner for his sixth goal. It was the second time this season that Lobjanidze had a goal and an assist in the same match.

Silva followed by hitting the post in the 43rd minute with a shot across the goal from 19 yards.

NYCFC cut Atlanta United’s lead to 2-1 in the 65th minute when Slisz gave away the ball in the 18-yard box because of a heavy first touch. It was a regrettable mistake in a match in which Williams and Valentino said he played very well. Monsef Bakrar took advantage of the one-on-one opportunity to end Atlanta United’s shutout attempt. Slisz wasn’t available to speak after the match.

Jamal Thiare replaced Rios in the 68th minute. Jay Fortune and Luke Brennan subbed on for Muyumba and Lobjanidze in the 75th minute.

Lennon was called for penalty kick when he was judged to have pulled down Talles Magno in the 80th minute. Magno converted the kick in the 82nd minute to tie the match at 2. Replays showed Lennon did reach for Magno’s jersey but his reaction spoke more to theatrics than hindrance. Lennon said he thought he had put his forearm against Magno but hadn’t seen a replay so he didn’t want to say anything else.

“It’s not mine to decide, the referees make the decision, they have VAR (video assistant referee) and all the things but we put ourselves in that situation to give him a good chance to call it,” Valentino said.

Atlanta United didn’t settle.

A Thiare header was saved off the line in the 85th minute. The potential goal wasn’t reviewed, though Thiare said he didn’t think the ball crossed the line. Another attack was stopped by Freese. Brennan received a yellow card after he was judged to have dove in the box in the 95th minute. A Silva shot from 18 yards was saved in the 97th minute.

Atlanta United finished with 11 shots, eight on goal, to NYCFC’s 11 and five.

“I think in the first half, even on the kickoff, right off the kickoff, we were more brave, more direct, and playing in there half and the goal comes right away,” Valentino said. “So right away, I was pleased, Yes. And then I felt like they stuck with that aggression, they stuck with the bravery to play. The big thing is that we have to find out why we dropped off.”

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup