Of the many things Atlanta United did wrong in its 2-1 loss to Memphis on Wednesday, two stood out in its elimination from the U.S. Open Cup:
1. It was assumed that Memphis, featuring former Atlanta United manager Stephen Glass and numerous players with ties to the team, was going to be aggressive, yet the hosts still played timidly, according to manager Gonzalo Pineda.
2. Clinging to a 1-0 lead despite being outplayed, Atlanta United gave up another goal in the game’s final minutes that resulted in extra time. Memphis followed with the winner. Four of the past five goals scored against the Five Stripes have come in the 90th minute or later.
“The first thing that comes to mind is we are not good enough first on the ball,” Pineda said after the game Wednesday. “That’s something we work on every day, very hard, on how to have good possessions of the ball and create chances, and today it did not manifest, and then we weren’t ready for the battle. I felt that today Memphis were more ready for the battle. They were trying to win the duels and do everything they can to put pressure on us.”
Pineda said the issues were in part the result of a lack of chemistry between the players, some of whom were making their first starts or playing together for the first time this season. Among those were goalkeeper Clement Diop, one of the few bright spots because he made eight saves while facing 30 shots; fullback Ronald Hernandez, whom Pineda also said played well; centerback Luis Abram; midfielder Ajani Fortune and winger Tyler Wolff, who scored Atlanta United’s goal in the fourth minute.
The rotation of players was necessary because the team played Sunday and has another important league game scheduled for Saturday at Nashville. Pineda also said the starts were rewards for players who have worked hard in training.
Still, after the goal, Wolff’s first for the club, Atlanta United had great difficulty maintaining possession and breaking through Memphis’ press. Both are things the team trains for over and over.
The 30 shots taken by Memphis were the most ever against Atlanta United and 15 more than the most taken against the team this season. It countered with 11 shots, putting only two on goal.
“It’s at times hard when you play against a team that looks in rhythm that play consistently. They’re cohesive. They pretty much put their starting lineup being played from the very beginning,” Pineda said. “And we put a team that never played together. So that is the kind of the risk that you take when you rotate in that manner against this type of opponent.”
Hernandez, who served as the team captain, said the players were in shock after the game and upset with how they they played. He said the loss was a reflection of attitude, not quality.
“Today they had more desire to play,” he said. “We scored early, and we had a good start, but then that good start ended up turning around on us.”
The lack of focus was punished eventually when JuanJo Purata made an ill-advised tackle of Phillip Goodrum, a former Atlanta United 2 player, in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Goodrum converted the penalty kick to tie the score. Nighte Pickering followed in the 100th minute with the winner.
In addition their role in Atlanta United being knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup earlier than ever before in its history, late goals allowed cost the team points against Toronto, which scored a tying goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and almost cost it against Chicago, which scored in the 90th minute to tie the score at 1-1. Atlanta United rallied against Chicago with a goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time to win 2-1.
Pineda said he thinks the issue of allowing goals is more mental than anything.
“We’ve been talking about this the past four games that we need to be more mentally locked in in the final stages of the game,” Wolff said. “We’ve given up lots and lots of points. And these final minutes of the game, I think that’s something obviously we’ve been trying to look at and, and change. And then going forward to really be on top and doing well. We need to clean that up.”
The team doesn’t have long to find its focus. Saturday’s match against Nashville is important in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta United is in third place, two points behind first-place New England, and Nashville is in sixth with 12 points.
Some issues may improve with the inclusion of more of the usual starters. Perhaps losing in the tournament will be a wake-up call.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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