Looking for good reason not like the squad that scored almost at will in its past six home games Atlanta United tied New England 0-0 on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
New England’s final shot to break the tie came on a cross from a free kick in injury time that was stopped by Brad Guzan.
After scoring 22 goals and going 5-0-1 in its last half-dozen games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Five Stripes put just two shots on goal against the Revs, a team they demolished 7-0 three weeks ago in one of those home games. Saturday’s game was Atlanta United’s seventh in 20 days.
With the draw, Atlanta United is unbeaten in its past eight games and has one loss in its past 15. It was the team’s sixth shutout in its past seven games.
Atlanta United (15-8-8) has 53 points and stays in third in the East after Chicago and NYCFC drew 1-1 on Saturday.
Atlanta United has a chance to pass NYCFC when it hosts Minnesota on Tuesday. The Five Stripes will be without striker Josef Martinez, who leads the team with 18 goals, and likely will also be missing Guzan. Both are expected to be called up by their national teams for upcoming World Cup qualifying games.
Before the game was played the team announced that Brandon Vazquez will be out a minimum of four weeks with a hamstring injury. Miguel Almiron is also out for a minimum of four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Then, fullback Greg Garza, back in the starting lineup for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury the last time Atlanta United played New England three weeks ago, left in the 26th minute with a possible injury. The team said Garza “felt something” in his left leg. He was slow to get up two times after either falling down or being knocked down.
It was another lowlight in a half in which the Revs mostly outplayed Atlanta United. After Garza was replaced by Yamil Asad, it appeared that manager Gerardo Martino switched the formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2, which seemed to help the Five Stripes regain some control.
Atlanta United easily won its first game without the injured Almiron, defeating Philadelphia 3-0. Rookie Julian Gressel, playing in Almiron’s role as a central midfielder, contributed a goal and an assist in that win.
Almiron’s ability to influence games with his speed and vision was missed on Saturday. Atlanta United had trouble building attacks and relieving pressure when New England attacked.
New England came close to scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute when Guzan came out to try to punch away a free kick. He didn’t get much on the punch and the ball skimmed off the crossbar and out of bounds.
