Atlanta United Squander Late Lead to Philadelphia Union, Fall 3-2
- Calum Ewing
- Aug 3
- 4 min read
Credit Atlanta United Communications
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Atlanta United managed to score two goals while down a man against the second-worst team in Major League Soccer, but they proved why they’re last on points with a late implosion to fall 3-2 away from home Staturday night against the Philadelphia Union.
The first chance of the match went to Philadelphia just under 20 minutes in. Three Union men pressed Will Reilly into losing the ball at the top of his own box, allowing Milan Iloski to be played in on goal. However, Lucas Hoyos flew off his line to make the important 1v1 save.
A few minutes later, Iloski would be played into space in the box again after an impressive scoop over an Atlanta defender, but his bouncing half-volley went just wide of the left back post after a slight deflection.
In the 26th minute, a Union ball played towards a retreating attacker resulted in Enea Mihaj flying in for a foul. There seemed to be limited contact initially, but referee Alan Chapman quickly ran over to draw out a red card! There was no clear replay that showed what happened, but the best angle seemed to indicate that Mihaj’s studs went into the back of the Union player’s right leg.
But, with their backs against the wall, the Five Stripes did not fold.
After a free kick, Atlanta moved quickly to attack, with Miranchuk flicking the ball forward from around midfield to Fafa Picault. Pressured by two defenders, Picault would hit a looping through ball out of the air that split the backline and put Miguel Almiron in on goal. Shielding the ball excellently from two more defenders as he dribbled forward into a 1v1, Almiron was fouled from behind by one of the Union pursuers. When he fell to the ground, his knee would have the last touch on the ball, sending it past goalkeeper Andre Blake for the improbable 1-0 lead!
Philadelphia came close to equalizing three times before the half. First, in the 43rd minute, a header off a corner from Neil Pierre hit off the top left side of the crossbar. Then, four minutes later, Cavan Sullivan ripped a shot from the top of the box towards the bottom left corner, forcing a diving save by Hoyos. Finally, on the following corner, the ball dropped up to the feet of Frankie Westfield, whose half volley effort hit the left side of the crossbar again! Therefore, Atlanta United escaped to halftime with the slim lead.
Five minutes into the second half, Elias Baez backed into a Union player in the box while tracking the ball off a cross. It was hard to truly put blame on either player in the collision, even amidst the fan’s shouts for a penalty, so no foul was given.
In the 59th minute, while the Union controlled possession, Jacques made a splintering run through the box leaving him with a header about 3 yards from goal. Unfortunately for him, he could not get over the ball, sending it over the bar.
Atlanta continued to defend admirably, and still they would not fold, in fact doing the opposite yet again. In the 66th minute, after winning as tackle on Union’s Bueno, Tristan Muyumba drove forward alone at the Philadelphia backline, cut onto his right, and ripped a shot from 25 yards out that curled past Andre Blake into the right side netting. Just like against Toronto earlier this season, a worldie from Atlanta United’s defensive midfielder gave the team some cushion. Would they finally earn their first win since May 2?
Credit Atlanta United Communications
The home side would make that difficult. In the 73rd minute, a square ball across Atlanta’s retreating backline (with a slight deflection by Matt Edwards that didn’t change the ball’s trajectory, only making it bounce) met Iloski, and this time he would not miss, flicking the ball with a back heel past Hoyos and drawing closer at 2-1.
Cross, clear. Cross, clear. Cross, clear. This endless cycle would haunt and punish Atlanta through the end of the match after allowing the first goal, but they were holding on admirably. In the 81st minute, Cavan Sullivan took a quick touch with his chest to hit a volley with his right foot, forcing Hoyos to make his best save of the night with world-class reaction time to stick his right hand out low for the stop.
Just a minute later, Sullivan nearly scored again after Muyumba was megged on the outside of the box, allowing a driving Union attacker to feed the young star. His shot was powerful, but hit the left side netting.
Six minutes afterwards, Hoyos came up big again, sliding out of his goal to stop Sullivan from crossing across the six yard box. He saw the ball bounce off his body and away from danger.
Another six minutes passed with Atlanta barely hanging on, and then recent Union returnee Kai Wagner bounced a free kick towards Hoyos. He was able to position his body well behind the ball, but it took an awkward bounce off him before being cleared. Soon after, Iloski met a cross from Westfield in the box, just to send his free header shockingly wide left.
In the 96th minute of eight added, tragedy finally struck for the numb, expectant Atlanta faithful. Kai Wagner whipped in a cross that met the head of 18-year old Neil Pierre, who had risen up above new Five Stripe CB Junior Alonso to send the ball into the bottom left corner past Hoyos, tying the game.
The Union were not done. In typical Atlanta fashion, the implosion was sealed with another Wagner cross from the left side just one minute later, met by Ezekiel Allodah who reached back and hit a scorching half-volley into the bottom left corner. There was nothing Hoyos could do. Atlanta lost again.
There’s not much more to say at this point in analysis until the front office has been cleared out or their urgency to turn over the roster changes. Atlanta United will return to their hunt for the Wooden Spoon on August 15 at home against the New York Red Bulls. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm EST.
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