Though it was a tough point earned in one of the toughest places to play in MLS at the end of a tough stretch of scheduling, Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino was not happy after tying Portland 1-1 on Sunday at Providence Park.
“It’s good to have played good soccer,” Martino said. “But we go with our hands empty. We were the better team.”
The tie snapped two-game losing streak in which the Five Stripes were outscored 6-2.
Atlanta United dominated possession, but didn’t break through until a goal by Julian Gressel in the 46th minute. It was Gressel’s first goal this season.
It was quickly offset by one from Portland defender Liam Ridgewell four minutes later. Portland’s David Guzman’s long-range shot hit the post in extra time, sparing Atlanta United another last-minute loss to go along with the one suffered at Montreal on April 15.
Atlanta United (3-4-3) will host Houston on Saturday at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium in the second home game in an eight-game stretch. Atlanta United has earned six points in its previous seven games. The Five Stripes have lost two of three at home this season.
“This is a tough place to go,” goalkeeper Alec Kann said. “We would have loved three points. We arguably had the better of the game. We controlled the game. It’s disappointing to get a point when we should win. At the end of the day, a point in this stadium is a good result.”
Here are five observations from the game:
Playing out of the back. After trying to play out of the back line with long passes forward in the previous two games (both 3-1 losses), Atlanta United got back to its preferred tactic of playing out of the back while maintaining patience with the ball. The team held a 72 percent advantage in possession through the half and 70 percent in the game.
Atlanta United had several chances to shoot but couldn’t fire early. Miguel Almiron passed up a shot with his weaker right foot in the middle of the first half and then passed up another with his left foot later in the half. He and Gressel worked a nice give-and-go but neither could get a shot off.
“I think both teams were guilty of not being more determined in the final third,” Martino said. “That’s probably why you saw a low-scoring game. On both sides, they would get to the final third and not capitalize.”
First goal. Atlanta United broke through in the opening seconds of the second half with a left-footed shot from Gressel into the lower left corner. Though the half was less than two minutes old, it was evident that Atlanta United's energy had increased and there was a plan because they immediately attacked down the left side.
“The only thing I told them was to continue what we were doing in the first half because it’s a bit of shame we weren’t winning at that point,” Martino said.
The goal came after Jeff Larentowicz intercepted a weak pass near the middle of the field. He found Gressel who had cut in from the left and launched the shot. Hector Villalba smartly let Larentowicz’s pass go by him.
“Just in that moment the ball comes to me, I took a good touch and just bounced to my left,” Gressel said.
It was Larentowicz’s first assist this season.
Tie game. Portland tied it in the 50th minute on a header by Ridgewell. It came off a free kick on the left side from more than 40 yards away. The cross went all the way across Kann's goal where Ridgewell headed it off the ground and into the net. Ridgewell appeared to be offside, but the assistant referee didn't raise his flag.
“I’ll have to watch it again,” Kann said. “It’s a tough ball to deal with, with the flight. Oftentimes goalkeepers can get frozen in that spot. It’s tough. It’s one we have to look at and improve on.”
Hector Villalba as striker. After Kenwyne Jones started the previous four games, Martino elected to move Villalba back into the role at striker.
Villalba, faster but smaller than Jones, chased down loose balls and often combined with the midfielders on passes.
Mark Bloom vs. Dairon Asprilla. Bloom, normally a fullback on the right, started on the left in place of the recuperating Greg Garza, who started the season's first nine games. It was Bloom's second start this season. In the first, at Montreal, he was tasked with trying to stop Ignacio Piatti.
Bloom didn’t have much to do this time because Portland rarely came down his side. That allowed him to push higher up the field and serve as a sixth midfielder. He won a free kick in a good spot in the 31st minute that Atlanta United couldn’t exploit.
“He did very well,” Martino said.
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