Atlanta United players learning to live with being fouled

Atlanta United midfielder Ezequiel Barco (8) dribbles the ball during the match against Inter Miami Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Dakota Williams/Atlanta United)

By Doug Roberson

Oct 28, 2021

Atlanta United, already the most-fouled team in MLS, took a beating during Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Five Stripes, led by Ezequiel Barco, were fouled 25 times, tying what may be an unwanted club record that was set only six games ago against D.C. United. Miami’s players received five yellow cards for their efforts. Atlanta United entered Wednesday’s game having been fouled 471 times, 32 more than the next most-hacked team, San Jose.

Barco, in particular, was targeted by Miami. He was fouled 12 times, tying an MLS single-game record. At least three of those fouls resulted in yellow cards, exemplifying the danger that Barco causes opponents. One of those fouls and yellow cards resulted in a free kick that led to the game-tying goal by Luiz Araujo in the 73rd minute.

“Barco is tricky because even though he is small, he is very, very strong and very resilient, and he does not go down easily,“ manager Gonzalo Pineda said.

Pineda said that even in training sessions, Barco’s teammates are forced to grab at him because he is very quick with the ball and very aggressive on offense and defense. Barco entered Wednesday’s game as the second-best duel winner by percentage (68.14) in MLS. He and teammate Marcelino Moreno ranked third and second, respectively, in fouls suffered in MLS before Wednesday’s game.

Pineda said he isn’t worried about the hits that Barco keeps taking. It’s not something that Barco has complained about during media sessions.

Pineda said he does worry about opponents who use fouling as a tactic. It was a concern shared by the team’s first manager, Gerardo Martino, when teams would take down Miguel Almiron, Hector Villalba and Julian Gressel.

“That is not an appropriate management of the game, and sometimes my players lose their minds because they get fouled so many times with no punishment,” he said.

Araujo, who was fouled three times by Miami, said because the team’s attack is very fast, sometimes the opponent’s only option is to foul.

“We have to be smart, and if they foul us in and around the box, we need to take advantage of those opportunities,” he said.

Araujo did with his free kick for the goal. Barco has scored three goals from free kicks, another from a penalty kick, and forced an own goal from a free kick this season.

Araujo said it is tough to stay calm when fouled so frequently.

“This is my profession,” he said. “It’s my job to score or give assists. The profession of the opponent is to stop us. Sometimes they have to resort to that.”

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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 New England 2, Atlanta United 1

May 9 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 1

May 15 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0

May 23 Atlanta United 1, Seattle 1