An encouraging start by Atlanta United was smothered by the same mistakes that have hurt it throughout the season, resulting in a 3-2 loss to Charlotte on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United scored first on a goal by Tristan Muyumba but allowed one soft goal in the opening seconds of the second half and another a few minutes later when its defense was split open as easily as ripping a used MARTA ticket. The third was another example of poor defending. Atlanta United has allowed at least three goals six times this season.
“Soft,” Atlanta United manager Ronny Deila said of the goals allowed. “This is same story, soft. Low character. You can’t blame everybody. But in the end, I’m responsible for this today. It’s very tough stuff to see, to watch these kind of things, because I think we should win today.”
Emmanuel Latte Lath scored late to tighten the match, but the hosts couldn’t produce a goal in stoppage time for the third consecutive match.
The defeat was Atlanta United’s first in four matches but stretched its winless streak to seven matches in front of an announced attendance of 60,005.
Because of the defeat, Atlanta United (4-11-8) fell 13 points below the playoff line with 11 matches remaining. It will host Seattle in its next match on July 26.
“If you want to play in the playoffs, it cannot happen like that, and now it’s gonna be difficult,” midfielder Bartosz Slisz said. “So I think this game was really important, and I’m really angry and disappointed and frustrated, because we did the hard work in the first half, but go easy in the second half.”
Deila lineup made several changes to the starting 11 compared to Wednesday’s draw against Chicago. Latte Lath started at striker with Miguel Almiron on the right wing and Luke Brennan, making his first start, on the left wing in place of Saba Lobjanidze. Alexey Miranchuk, Muyumba and Slisz started in the midfield. Matthew Edwards and Ronald Hernandez replaced Pedro Amador and Brooks Lennon as fullbacks. Derrick Williams, who returned from injury to replace Luke Abram as one centerback, started alongside Efrain Morales. Brad Guzan started in goal.
Atlanta United took a 1-0 lead, its first in its past eight matches and just the seventh time this season, on a header by Muyumba to the back post in the 19th minute. It was his first goal this season. Slisz assisted, his second in his second consecutive match, with a cross from the right side.
Atlanta United controlled the half, finishing with four shots, one on goal, and an expected goals total of 0.18 from five chances created. Charlotte finished with two shots, neither on target, and an expected goals total of 0.13 from two chances created.
In addition to scoring first, Atlanta United’s next box to check was not allowing a goal between the 46th and 60th minutes. The team was minus-12 in goal difference in that segment this season.
That box remained unchecked.
Charlotte needed less than a minute to score and tie the match at 1 when Idan Toklomati tapped in a slow cross to the back post.
Before the goal, Pedro Amador subbed on as left fullback to start the half with Edwards replacing Morales as a centerback.
Charlotte took a 2-1 lead when Wilfried Zaha split Edwards and Williams, received the ball, shook off a tackle by Williams, and put a right-footed shot into the right corner in the 59th minute. Charlotte needed two passes to move the ball from midfield into Atlanta United’s 18-yard box. Neither Brandt Bronico nor Pep Beil, who were each given assists, were pressured by an Atlanta United player.
Williams said he thought he was fouled but he said Zaha’s first touch was excellent to create the space.
Atlanta United’s goal difference in the 46-60th minutes increased to minus-14.
“We just shoot ourselves in the foot,” Williams said. “One mistake turns into two mistakes turns into three mistakes. It’s just not good enough.”
Saba Lobjanidze, Brooks Lennon and Jamal Thiare replaced Brennan, Edwards and Muyumba in the 72nd minute. Thiare immediately put a header at the near post over the crossbar. Thiare fired another header right at Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina in the 75th minute.
Charlotte increased its lead to 3-1 in the 77th minute when Biel, mostly unmarked at the top of the 18-yard box, one-timed a right-footed shot through Amador’s legs and into the right corner.
Latte Lath scored in the 86th minute to cut Atlanta United’s deficit to 3-2. It was his seventh goal. Almiron was credited with an assist, his fifth.
The stat that Deila referenced as an example of Atlanta United’s issues: it had more than 50 touches in Charlotte’s 18-yard box. Charlotte had 12 in Atlanta United’s. It came away with the goals and the win.
“You cannot go in thinking that you have to score four goals every time,” Deila said.
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