Will possibility of missing MLS playoffs be spark Atlanta United needs?

It’s no secret that during this MLS season Atlanta United rarely starts playing well until its opponent scores.

It happened in its most recent game, a must-win for playoff probability reasons, against D.C. United. The Five Stripes didn’t show any urgency until Russell Canouse scored to give D.C. United a 1-0 lead in the 77th minute. Atlanta United answered with a goal by Jon Gallagher, but D.C. United scored again to secure the 2-1 victory.

That loss put Atlanta United in a position in which it doesn’t control its fate. Even if it takes all nine points from its remaining three games, starting Wednesday at Orlando, then it may not finish as one of the 10 teams that will qualify for the playoffs. The team is in 12th place, two points behind 10th-place Miami and one ahead of 13th-place D.C. United.

ExploreAtlanta United offense by the numbers

So, instead of the needed kick in the pants in a game, maybe the possibility of not making the playoffs is the kick in the pants in the season that will push Atlanta United.

“If that’s what it takes, then it will have been worth it,” interim manager Stephen Glass said. “Sometimes you don’t know what sparks players inside to push them.”

Glass, who typically defends the players and tries to express optimism before and after every game, has admitted a few times that he doesn’t know why the team can’t show urgency from the first minute.

“When we went behind the other night, you saw a real determination,” Glass said. “We were unfortunate not to get one or three points the other night. If that urgency is there from minute one, you give yourself a better opportunity.”

Midfielder Jake Mulraney described the on-off switch being stuck in off as “confusing.”

“Hopefully, that could be the reason that makes us tick from the start,” he said of the team’s view outside of the playoffs.

Scoring the first goal would be a sign that team is switched on. It is 5-0-0 when it scores first and 0-11-2 when it concedes first.

To try to help the team find those crucial first goals, Glass said he showed them video of some of the times the players have gotten into good positions on offense only for something to break down in the final sequence. He said a lot of those moments came against D.C. United. It could be a run not made, a pass not seen or a poor decision by the person with the ball.

Mulraney said the team has more than enough talent and should be getting more shots on goal. Atlanta United’s 71 shots on goal are tied for third-fewest in MLS. Its 19 goals are tied for second-fewest.

“I see it day in and day out,” Mulraney said. “We should be scoring more goals, yeah.”

Glass did something similar with a video review after a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami on Sept. 19, when the defense kept committing small mistakes that when added together were resulting in goals for opponents. The team responded by defeating Dallas 1-0 in its next game.

“We are hopeful that the positive side of things can come out in the attack and the players can show what they are really about when games are on the line and the season’s on the line,” he said.