There was no snow this time, but Atlanta United once again left frigid Minnesota with three points after holding on with frozen fingertips to defeat the Loons 1-0 on Saturday.
Last year’s meeting started with a league-record low 19-degree temperature and ended with inches of snow on the ground and an 6-1 win Atlanta United victory, the first for the franchise.
It was cold – 21 degrees at kickoff – again on Saturday, but this time Atlanta didn’t have things as easy. An own-goal charged to Francisco Calvo early in the first half gave the Five Stripes the lead, one they had fight to keep after Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was ejected in the 38th minute after receiving two yellow cards.
It was Atlanta United’s third consecutive win and first on the road this season.
Atlanta United grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third minute on an own-goal by Calvo. A corner kick led to a headed shot by Hector Villalba bouncing off the cross bar, off Calvo and over the line.
A diving Matthew Lampson stopped a Villalba breakaway and prevented Atlanta United from grabbing a 2-0 lead in the fifth minute.
Gonzalez Pirez picked up a yellow card in the first minute stopping a counter-attack by dragging down a Minnesota United player and then earned another yellow card another for a tackle in the 38th, resulting in his ejection and reducing Atlanta United to 10 men. Gonzalez Pirez had been flirting with that second yellow throughout the first half with several late tackles. Those were his second and third yellow cards, and first ejection this season. He received 10 yellow cards and one red card last season.
Brad Guzan’s heroics preserved the clean sheet for Atlanta United, its first this season. He made several diving stops and was saved by the post in the 88th minute.
The injury came with costs: Jeff Larentowicz left with an undisclosed injury and Greg Garza appeared to suffer an injury to his shoulder in extra time. Garza returned to finish the game.
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