In a result and performance that could ripple throughout the remainder of its season, Atlanta United was historically routed by Chicago 5-1 on Wednesday.
The Fire scored more goals (5) in the first half than Atlanta United had ever allowed in the entirety of any MLS game. The margin tied for the largest in Atlanta United’s history.
“It’s not explainable,” Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said. “Every aspect of the game, we weren’t there, we weren’t ready. I blame myself for this because I have to prepare them. We have to be ashamed for our fans who want to come here and see a good Atlanta United. We were really embarrassing today, especially in the first half.”
Down to 10 men after Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was given a red card in the 11th minute, Atlanta United was outshot 24-3 with Chicago completing 628 passes and 16 goal-scoring chances.
On top of the embarrassment of the performance and result, Atlanta United (9-7-2) lost a chance to keep pace with first-place Philadelphia in the chase for the top spot in the MLS East.
The seven losses are as many as Atlanta United suffered all of last season when it won the MLS Cup.
De Boer decided not to bring Josef Martinez, recently returned from the Copa America in Brazil, so he fielded a lineup that had scored just six goals in MLS this season. The 11 featured three changes from the group that started last week’s 2-1 win against Montreal. Brad Guzan started in goal with a backline of Franco Escobar, Miles Robinson, Gonzalez Pirez and Michael Parkhurst replacing Flo Pogba at left fullback. The midfield was Jeff Larentowicz, in for Eric Remedi, Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel and Dion Pereira, in for Justin Meram. Brandon Vazquez started his third consecutive game at striker, beside Pity Martinez in a 4-4-2 look. Josef Martinez, Remedi and Meram were held out as starters for rest and recovery ahead of Sunday’s game against New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The game came down to three missed plays: a missed mark, a missed clearance and a missed tackle.
“The game was over in 10 minutes,” Guzan said. “It’s a tough one to take, for sure. We have to regroup. There’s another big game on Sunday.”
Atlanta United’s recent penchant for giving up early goals continued with Francisco Calvo giving the Fire a 1-0 lead with a header off a corner kick in the fourth minute. Escobar failed to closely mark Calvo. Atlanta United gave up a goal inside the first minute to Toronto two games before the Fire contest.
“We have to show what we show in Mercedes-Benz stadium,” de Boer said. “Every time we start away very sloppy with mistakes, or silly mistakes. Sometimes we don’t concede a goal and we can be lucky. A lot of times we concede a goal. It looks like mentally we are dropping back. Straighten your back, your chest forward and believe in your quality. This isn’t the Atlanta United I want to see of course.”
Chicago took a 2-0 lead three minutes later on a goal from C.J. Sapong. Gonzalez Pirez whiffed trying to clear a long diagonal pass and the ball fell right to Sapong, whose low hard shot went between Guzan’s legs.
And then things got really bad for Atlanta United.
Gonzalez Pirez was called for a handball in the penalty box, and given a red card, in the 11th minute. Nicolas Gaitan converted the penalty to give the Fire a 3-0 lead. The red card means that Gonzalez Pirez will miss the game against Red Bulls. The play started when Parkhurst failed to clear a ball down on his side.
The 4-4-2 was scrapped a few minutes later when de Boer subbed Pogba on for Pity Martinez in an attempt to shore up the defense.
It didn’t matter. Sapong scored his second goal to give Chicago a 4-0 lead in the 37th minute. The goal came when Pogba didn’t complete a tackle of
Aleksandar Katai, whose pass put Sapong in on goal.
Chicago increased its lead to 5-0 on a goal by Fabian Herbers in the 44th minute. Herbers received the ball in the penalty box, rounded Larentowicz and put a shot just inside the near post.
At halftime, de Boer said he told the team “we have to be ashamed, you know of what we showed. Embarrassed. You can only show some honor, some pride. And they showed it in the second half. You saw the energy you want to see. But it was too late.”
Atlanta United got one back when Robinson made a bounding and surprising run down the field. He was pulled down in the penalty box. Vazquez converted the penalty in the 58th minute.
Atlanta United played the final minutes with just nine men after Pereira went down after being hit in the head during a challenge.
“I said after this game to remember this feeling,” de Boer said. “You don’t want that feeling again. That embarrassment, that shame you feel. You always have one time in your career you have that feeling. Hopefully it’s only once. The good thing is it’s only three points. It’s not more. But if you aren’t starting to think about Red Bulls today, it can be more points. Remember this feeling but remember the good feelings we have also experienced. It starts with hard work. Be focused from the first second.”
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