Atlanta United traveled to New Jersey for a double matchday on Saturday, but fell to New York Red Bulls 4-0. The result ends Atlanta United's seven-match unbeaten streak.
The Red Bulls made it 1-0 in the 32nd minute. In New York's attacking third, Cameron Harper lofted a throw-in that traveled into the box unimpeded. Midfielder Daniel Edelman struck it with his left foot on a bounce to open the scoring.
In the 45th minute, the Red Bulls doubled their lead. After a little disorganization, the Atlanta United defense failed to clear the ball from their half. The home side took advantage, quickly turning it over and creating a fast break. Cristian Cásseres Jr. slotted a shot past Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and the score was 2-0.
New York Red Bulls would add two more goals, both scored by Frankie Amaya. First, in the 78th minute when he finished off a rebound. He secured his brace later in the 90th minute with a right footed shot.
"We were breaking lines, foul, breaking lines, foul," Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda said. "So that’s why we couldn’t progress the ball a little bit forward in those first 20 minutes of the game. Then the goal comes out of a massive distraction and a throw-in. Then obviously, it carries over, we couldn’t really get back to executing the game plan in the same way. Another goal comes at the end of the first half from an individual mistake in the build up and then suddenly in a game that probably you were executing very decently the game plan, you are losing so you are up the hill trying to chase the game. And I felt that they were better in the important moments, the transition moments."
Atlanta United had its best opportunity of the first half in the fifth minute. From the halfway line, center back Juanjo Purata played a long ball to Giorgos Giakoumakis inside the box. The striker headed Purata’s pass centrally into dangerous territory. Caleb Wiley was able to run on and connect with his right foot one touch, but his shot on goal was saved by New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
In an effort to cut into the deficit, Pineda sent on Miguel Berry and Machop Chol as second half substitutes to join Giakoumakis in the attack. Chol entered the match in the 55th minute and provided a spark. First, when he received a pass from Wiley on the left side, then slid a cross into the box for Giakoumakis that was cleared away by Red Bulls. Then again, Chol found some space in the same lane and ripped a shot with his left foot that just missed and went into the side netting. Berry had a chance for a shot on goal from close range in the 89th minute, but it was blocked.
"At the beginning of the second half, we were having a little spell of better actions, a couple final third movements, a couple chances in the middle of the second half when Machop Chol entered the game. But then at the end a couple of individual mistakes on the third and fourth goal so a 4-0 that is very painful for us," Pineda said.
Saturday marked the return of two of Atlanta United starters. Giakoumakis and Thiago Almada were back in the starting XI after missing the 2-2 draw with New York City FC on Wednesday. Both were called up to their countries during the June international FIFA window and Giakoumakis served a one-match suspension in the last club match for yellow card accumulation.
Atlanta was without Miles Robinson, Derrick Etienne Jr., and Jay Fortune, who were all called up by their home countries for the Gold Cup. With Robinson away with the United States men's national team, Luis Abram filled in at center back. It was the second time the Peruvian has made the starting XI for Atlanta United. Abram exited the match after a hard tackle. Homegrown Noah Cobb replaced him on the backline in the 75th minute.
“Luis [Abram] is a senior international, Noah's [Cobb] coming now, he's got a few games under his belt and again came on tonight. The more that they see the field, the more confidence they're going to have within our system and within our group," Guzan said. "We believe in those guys to step on the field and do the job."
Up next - Atlanta United hosts Philadelphia Union and soon... Leagues Cup
The month of June draws to a close for Atlanta United, ushering in an exciting July. Next on the MLS schedule is a home meeting with Philadelphia Union at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, July 2. We're also 30 days out from the inaugural Leagues Cup, a new competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs. Atlanta United will host Cruz Azul from Liga MX on July 29, but first they have a meeting with Inter Miami CF and new MLS star Lionel Messi at DRV PNK Stadium on Tuesday, July 25.
