There were signs that Atlanta United’s defense may not have been playing as well as it seemed in its past few games.
Columbus scored two goals and missed several good chances in the U.S. Open Cup in a 3-2 loss to the Five Stripes.
Toronto scored within 30 seconds and also missed several good chances three games ago in a 3-2 win.
Even Montreal, which bunkered most of the game, was able to get through Atlanta United’s defense a few times to create chaos in a 2-1 loss.
But those were nothing compared to what Chicago did in a 5-1 win on Wednesday at SeatGeek Stadium.
The mistakes made by Atlanta United's defense, statistically among the best in MLS before Wednesday, were frequent, odd and ruthlessly exploited by Chicago. Crosses were not cleared. Tackles not made. Spaces not closed. All of the things that Atlanta United has done well most of the season in allowing just 15 goals through 17 games were not done. And Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was given a red card after a handball in the penalty box.
“We have to look in the mirror as a group because the last few games certainly haven’t been good enough defensively,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said.
This isn’t a new problem.
Atlanta United has skated on the edge of disaster on defense since 2017. The difference in those games and Wednesday night’s massacre -- the five goals were the most ever conceded by Atlanta United -- was a little bit of luck and a little bit of skill: Atlanta United’s defenders have been able to make up for mistakes by winning one-on-one-battles. But those defenders didn’t win those in the first half, at least not in the first 45 minutes.
The first goal came when fullback Franco Escobar failed to either mark Francisco Calvo or head away the corner kick. Take your pick. Goal. Fourth minute.
The second came when Gonzalez Pirez mostly whiffed when attempting to clear a cross. C.J. Sapong received the ball and put his shot between Guzan’s legs. Goal. Seventh minute.
The third came when Michael Parkhurst failed to complete a tackle, which was something that happened against Toronto on its first goal, as well. Gonzalez Pirez received his red card trying to stop the ensuing chaos. Goal. Thirteenth minute.
The game was over.
Atlanta United never gave itself a chance.
“We have to show what we show in Mercedes-Benz stadium. Every time we start away very sloppy with mistakes, or silly mistakes. sometimes we don’t concede a goal and we can be lucky,” manager Frank de Boer said. “A lot of times, we concede a goal. It looks like mentally we are dropping back. Straighten your back, your chest forward and believe in your quality. This isn’t the Atlanta United I want to see of course.”
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