April 27, 2021 (Champions League): Philadelphia Union 3, Atlanta United 0

A fantastic performance by Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake in the first half and three lapses of focus by Atlanta United in the second half combined to see the Five Stripes fall 3-0 to the Union on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal series at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

ExploreAtlanta united not giving up hope in Champions League

Philadelphia striker Kacper Przybylko was left unmarked on the back post to score the winning goal in the 57th minute. He added a second in the 73rd minute. Anthony Fontana scored the third after a Philadelphia counterattack in the 86th minute.

It was the first goals allowed by Atlanta United at home in its Champions League history and its first loss at home in the tournament’s history, snapping its five-game win streak. It was also Atlanta United’s largest loss at home in its five year history.

The win stood because Blake finished with seven saves, using every body part to deny Atlanta United, which faces a tough challenge in trying for the third time to advance past the quarterfinals of the tournament. The majority of the saves came in the first half when the team peppered Blake’s goal.

“We controlled the game,” Atlanta United manager Gabriel Heinze said. “After the first goal, the set piece, the team keep trying to win the same way. We were trying to score faster. And the goals came from our mistakes. Even after this, the team was very good.”

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

The two teams are scheduled to play the second leg May 4 in Philadelphia. The winner of the series will face the winner of the series between Portland and Club America in the semifinals.

Manager Gabriel Heinze put out an interesting starting 11 that included the debut of Designated Player Alan Franco as a centerback. The rest of the lineup was composed of Josef Martinez, Marcelino Moreno, Ezequiel Barco, Jurgen Damm, Emerson Hyndman, Franco Ibarra, Santiago Sosa, George Bello, Miles Robinson and Brad Guzan.

Heinze also rolled out a new formation, going with three in the back, instead of the four-man backline used in the team’s previous four games. Philadelphia manager said the personnel, and not the formation, came as a bit of a surprise.

“When team sheet came out and we saw the lineup, I told the team they are coming to attack us and end this thing tonight,” he said. “Let’s get through the first 15 minutes.”

Curtin, the reigning MLS Manager of the Year, was correct.

Atlanta United dominated the first half with eight shots, five on goal, and 61% of the possession time but couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities because of Blake, who used either a right leg, a left leg, a right hand and then both hands to keep the Five Stripes at bay.

Atlanta United wasted its first good chance when Damm, running onto a long ball played over the top of Philadelphia’s defense by Barco, trapped the ball but couldn’t beat Blake with a left-footed shot in a one-on-one situation in the sixth minute.

Hyndman tested Blake with a volley from 20 yards in the 32nd minute that he pushed over the crossbar.

Moreno was stopped by Blake in a one-on-one in the 37th minute after he was played through by Martinez.

Blake followed that by stopping Martinez in the 38th minute when he was in one-on-one.

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Blake was back it at the start of the second half. Damm was again played in by Martinez. He was forced to pull up because of a sliding tackle. Damm squared it to Moreno, whose shot was saved.

“I don’t think we felt frustrated at any point in the game,” Sosa said. “I think we tried to attack, like we do in every game. Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in and that’s football.”

Curtin said if Atlanta United had scored one of those early chances, the floodgates could have opened.

But they also knew if they stood firm, “We knew if we were patient space would open up in the second half,” he said.

Again, Curtin was correct.

Having weathered that black and red storm that featured six saves made by Blake, Philadelphia took control.

Atlanta United was fortunate in the 56th minute when Przybylko was left unmarked in the center of the penalty box. Guzan rushed out to block his shot. On the ensuing corner, Przybylko was again left unmarked, this time at the back post, for the easy tap in to give the Union the lead.

The Friendly Striker loves scoring in @TheChampions!#DOOP | #ATLvPHI 0 - 1 pic.twitter.com/3sTArlfzka
— PhilaUnion🛡 (@PhilaUnion) April 28, 2021

After the goal, Jake Mulraney came on for Moreno.

Heinze brought on more offense in the 69th with Erick Torres making his season debut in place of Ibarra.

Philadelphia’s second goal came when Damm, wasteful most of the night, and Sosa had a miscommunication, resulting in a turnover in its third of the field. Leon Flach found Przybylko for his brace.

Sosa said it was a play in which Damm said you have it and he said you have it.

“We just weren’t on the same page and that’s what happened,” Sosa said.

Torres put in a header in the 76th minute but it was easily saved by Blake.

The Union’s last goal came when it won the ball in its third. A simple pass through Atlanta United’s back line created a 2-on-1 opportunity for Fontana. Unlike Atlanta United in the first half, Fontana put his shot into goal.

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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule

April 17 Atlanta United 0, Orlando 0

April 24 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 1

May 1 at New England, 7 p.m., CW

May 9 at Inter Miami, 1 p.m., ABC

May 15 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE

May 23 at Seattle, 4:30 p.m., Fox

May 29 vs. Nashville, 3:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE