With Saturday's 2-2 draw with Toronto, Atlanta United has lost seven points in the final minutes of three games this season, according to Gerardo Martino.
Toronto scored in stoppage time to turn three points for Atlanta United into one. Dallas scored two goals in the final minutes to turn three points into none in 3-2 Five Stripes’ loss. And New England rallied to tie Atlanta United 1-1 with a goal in the final minutes to turn three points into one.
Seven points. Instead of having 48 points, which still leads MLS, Atlanta United could have 55 and be running away with the Supporters’ Shield instead of in a battle with NYCFC, New York Red Bulls and Dallas.
Speaking somewhat loudly and with a seriousness he doesn’t often employ, Martino gave a salty, 1-minute, 27-second long answer to how his team can keep from losing points when leading games for the remainder of the season.
Delay.
Martino seems exasperated that Atlanta United’s opponents are allowed to delay games after throw-ins, subs, goal kicks, free kicks, etc. without being punished, while Atlanta United tries to keep playing as soon as allowed after stoppages.
He said Toronto used that tactic again and again in Saturday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“They are not being punished for it,” Martino said. “In the second half when we are up after the 80th minute, that’s something we should do.”
Earlier in the interview, Martino recognized that the team may not have been in that position had it not wasted scoring chances from Miguel Almiron, Hector Villalba and Josef Martinez.
“We could close the game down if we score the third goal,” he said. “That’s one way to do it, is to score.
“What some other teams do, especially when they come here, is once they are in a favorable result, are delays and other things. They have the experience and they know how to slow a game down. That’s part of why we’ve lost seven points.”
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