Atlanta United draws D.C. United in Leagues Cup opener, drops point in penalty shootout

Atlanta's run in 2024 Leagues Cup kicked off Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against fellow MLS club D.C. United in group play. A wild match that saw five total goals scored in the first half went to penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw at the end of regulation.

D.C. United won the penalty shootout 6-5 to claim an extra point in the table. Atlanta United earns one point for the tie in regulation.

"Disappointing end result, I guess you could say, going to penalties," interim head coach Rob Valentino said in his post-match press conference. "But I felt like we had enough in the second half to potentially win the game although [it was] a rough start."

It took roughly four minutes into Friday's match for D.C.’s lethal goal scorer and captain Christian Benteke to score his fourth goal of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A clearance from Josh Cohen, earning the nod in goal under interim head coach Rob Valentino’s starting XI, failed to travel outside the 18-yard box after the Atlanta United goalkeeper received a pass dropped back. Dominique Badji headed the 50-50 ball toward goal and Benteke pounced, evaded Cohen, and slotted it into an open net.

Coming off a triumphant come-from-behind 2-1 win over defending MLS champion Columbus Crew, Atlanta looked nervy in the opening 20 moments of Friday’s match. But that all changed when the home team answered in the 20th minute. Looking determined and locked in, Atlanta connected on their first attacking chance when Brooks Lennon whipped a right-footed cross into the box. The header from Daniel Ríos, who was marked tightly, went in to equalize 1-1.

"This is where we talk about just being more consistent throughout the season," said midfielder Dax McCarty, who subbed into the match at halftime. "We are a good enough team. If we don't beat ourselves, we're going to win a lot of games. But unfortunately, we keep doing that."

D.C. United capitalized on another errant play in Atlanta United’s defensive half to regain the lead. Coming out of an Atlanta United corner kick, Lennon headed the long punt from D.C. goalkeeper Alex Bono. However, Lennon’s header went backwards towards goal. Jared Stroud ran it down and squeezed a shot past Cohen to make it 2-1 D.C.

Stroud secured his brace moments later. On a D.C. corner kick, the headed clearance fell to Stroud just outside the 18-yard box. The midfielder hit a volley to extend D.C.'s lead 3-1 in the 32nd minute and deepen Atlanta's deficit.

"Really angry that they’re down in that situation," Valentino said. "That’s inexcusable. There is no reason to be in a position like that in my opinion. We should have never been in that spot. Scoring goals is great, it’s awesome, but the way we had to go and work, we shouldn’t have to do that."

Atlanta United pulled one goal back in the 39th minute. After some nice interplay between Xande Silva and Ríos, D.C. broke it up and knocked the ball away. The clearance landed at the feet of Saba Lojanidze, and the Georgian winger did the rest. He took his defender 1v1 then curled a golazo into the upper corner of the net in the 38th minute.

With his goal, Saba has now tallied 10 or more goals and 10 or more assists for Atlanta United in all competitions. He celebrated by holding up an "A" to tribute his newborn daughter, Alessya, who was born just two days ago.

In second half stoppage time, a direct free kick for Atlanta United quickly turned into a goal-scoring opportunity for D.C. United. A long-range shot from D.C. required a diving save from Cohen, and the scoreline remained 3-2 in favor of the visitors.

"It's frustrating when you dig yourself into a hole," Cohen said. "I thought we did well to work out of it, but it's not the start we want to have or need to have if we're going to be successful. It's very frustrating."

Atlanta United began the second 45 with a opportunity to equalize. Ronald Hernández passed the ball to Bartosz Slisz who turned with a touch then slipped a through ball to Jamal Thiaré, who entered the match at halftime as a substitute for Xande Silva. Thiaré ran ahead toward goal and appeared to be fouled inside the box before he could take a shot. However, a foul was not called, even after a VAR check.

In the 60th minute, D.C. United defender Lucas Bartlett pulled down Ríos around the neck inside the box, preventing him from making a play Lennon’s long cross into the box. VAR checked for a possible penalty, which resulted in a foul called. Atlanta United was awarded a penalty kick for a chance to level the match.

Slisz took the kick for Atlanta United. He struck it low with his right foot. The shot was blocked by Bono and D.C. United held onto their one-goal lead.

That wasn’t the only chance for Atlanta United to equalize the match on a penalty kick in the second half. In the 79th minute, D.C. was called for another foul inside the box that took down Thiaré after a give-and-go with Lobjanidze.

This time, Ríos took the kick. The Mexican striker delivered to level the match 3-3 in the 81st minute and lock up his brace on the night.

With the match tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, the result was determined in a penalty kick shootout per Leagues Cup rules. Before the shootout, Ríos was subbed off due to cramping, so he was unable to take a PK.

Cohen saved the first kick for Atlanta, but D.C. United went on to convert their next five in a row. McCarty took the first kick for Atlanta United and converted, but was followed by a Lennon miss. From there, both teams continued to make their kicks until one side broke. The miss came from Slisz on his second PK attempt of the night.

"[Slisz] is a great player," McCarty said. "On this night, you have to give credit to Alex Bono. He got the best of us. It's not just one player, right? It's everyone. It's a collective. There's no pointing fingers. There's no blame. Bartek's a great player... When you miss two, it's difficult, but the message to him was, we'll pick you up."

"This is a big lesson for me," Slisz said.

Although it's not the finish they wanted, Atlanta United is still in contention in their group, just one point behind D.C. after the opening match of the group stage. The top two finishers in the group of three will advance to the single-elimination knockout stage. Next, Atlanta United will face Santos Laguna at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 4.

Penalty Shootout Result

• ATL - Dax McCarty (Goal), Brooks Lennon (Saved), Nick Firmino (Goal), Saba Lobjanidze (Goal), Jamal Thiaré (Goal), Derrick Williams (Goal), Bartosz Slisz (Saved)
• D.C. - Mateusz Klich (Saved), Christian Benteke (Goal), Aaron Herrera (Goal), Cristian Dajome (Goal), Pedro Santos (Goal), Chris McVey (Goal), Gabriel Pirani (Goal)