Daniel Rios and Caleb Wiley scored their first goals this season but Atlanta United gave up two odd goals and settled for a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The draw snapped Atlanta United’s three-game win streak at home in front of an announced attendance of 42,763. The Five Stripes will play three of their next four at home.
The draw moved Atlanta United (3-2-2) into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. It will host Cincinnati, which has lost its last two, on April 20.
It wasn’t a bad result, considering Atlanta United was missing several starters to injuries. But to give up a two-goal lead frustrated manager Gonzalo Pineda and the players. The teams combined for 32 shots and seven yellow cards. Atlanta United created 18 chances, including seven by Almada. The Union created eight.
“I think the team was very solid, also defensively, and then we give up two silly goals, of course it’s frustrating,” Pineda said.
Pineda said the game management in the final 15 minutes should have been better.
“Because for me, this was kind of a playoff game,” he said. “It was a game against an opponent that understands how to take this type of match.”
Pineda selected this starting 11: Rios, in because leading scorer Giorgos Giakoumakis and backup Jamal Thiare are injured, attacking midfielder Almada, wingers Saba Lobjanidze and Tyler Wolff, in for injured Xande Silva, central midfielders Tristan Muyumba and Bartosz Slisz, fullbacks Brooks Lennon and Wiley, a new centerback pairing in Luis Abram and Noah Cobb, in for injured starters Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams, and goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
The first half was played aggressively by both teams, resulting in four yellow cards handed out by referee Jon Freemon within the first 35 minutes. Three went to Philadelphia players, two for contact.
Union goalkeeper Andre Blake was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury just before halftime. He was replaced by Oliver Semmle.
Philadelphia’s best chance to score in the half came in very quick sequence in which Atlanta United defenders blocked three shots within a few seconds. Atlanta United’s best chance came when Almada found enough space between four defenders to thread a shot that was saved by Blake.
Atlanta United put Philadelphia under pressure to start the second half and got its reward with Rios headed in a looping cross from Almada in the 56th to give Atlanta United a 1-0 lead. Rios created enough space from centerback Jakob Glesnes to guide the header in. It was Almada’s second assist. Lennon was also credited with an assist, his fourth.
“I told him the other day about these type of crosses that we try exactly in that space, and then he was there,” Pineda said. “So really happy for his dedication and his commitment.
Edwin Mosquera and Nic Firmino came on for Rios and Wolff in the 60th minute. Sunday’s match was Rios’ first game action since he subbed on March 23 at Toronto.
Wiley gave Atlanta United a 2-0 lead in the 63rd minute with a low, burning effort from 30 yards that curled and took one hop into the lower left corner.
“It came off nice,” he said. “I’m not used to scoring those.”
Wiley said he had a similar opportunity in the first half, but he instead passed it to Wolff.
“This time, I saw the chance to take my shot, take the opportunity to hit it and it went in the back of the net, which was a nice, nice feeling,” he said.
Guzan kept the Union off the board with a diving stop to his left of a point-blank shot in the 66th minute. Guzan got up off the turf and kicked his right post after the block in excitement.
Philadelphia cut Atlanta United’s lead to 2-1 in the 73rd minute because of a goal scored by Mikael Uhre, who was the first to reach a loose ball behind Atlanta United’s defense. Guzan started to come out of his box to try to get the ball but was forced to retreat when he saw Uhre was going to get there first. Uhre’s shot curled around Guzan’s right arm and into the upper left corner.
The Union tied the game at two on another weird goal, this time scored by Kai Wagner. Wiley headed away a Philadelphia throw-in toward the top of the box. Wagner reached the ball before Muyumba. His stabbed effort curled into the upper left corner in the 77th minute. It appeared that the Philadelphia player who had the throw-in stepped over the sideline, which should have resulted in an infraction and Atlanta United having the ball. The play wasn’t reviewable, according to the rules.
Lobjanidze hit the post in the 87th minute. An open shot by Almada was saved in the 94th minute.
“It’s one of those draws, I feel it’s like a loss, to be honest,” Wiley said. “When you create so many chances, and you feel like you’re honestly the better team, it feels like a loss. I think, toward the end, it’s something that we have to work on is around the 80th, 90th Minute, we have to keep our concentration and focus.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., FOX
April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
