MLS: Windy City Howler as Atlanta United Shut Out by Chicago Fire
- Calum Ewing
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
Credit: Atlanta United
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Chicago, IL — Whether it was bad luck, or whether it was a lack of quality, Atlanta United could not take advantage of their chances in the final third, falling 1-0 away to the Chicago Fire.
Tata Martino was out due to a red card received in the last match, so in the interim, assistant Jorge Theiler made 3 changes to the starting lineup from last week. Matias Galarza returned to the midfield after VISA dealings caused an absence against Columbus, while Cooper Sanchez returned alongside him from the bench. On the right wing, Alexey Miranchuk was a late scratch from the roster due to a minor muscle injury, so Saba Lobjanidze replaced him. Miguel Almiron notably made his 100th MLS regular season appearance.
Credit: Atlanta United
Just four minutes in, Chicago had their first chance of the match. A poor giveaway from Saba Lobjanidze was met by Jonathan Bamba, and he hit a soft pass from the left wing towards Maren Halie-Selassie. He was a step behind the play, but Stain Gregersen left the ball as he tried to let it roll past the both of them, giving Selassie time to poke it past him and back to Bamba. The Chicago star’s attempt to flick it across the box was denied by a sliding Hoyos, who got up and came out again to grab the ball before Selassie could get the rebound.
After a few half-chances for Atlanta, Chicago got another big chance in the 13th minute. After a fantastic 1-2, Philip Zinckernagel dribbled to the right side of the box, playing it across centrally to Jonathan Bamba. Bamba turned his back to goal away from the defender and quickly laid it off to Halie-Selassie, who hit it first time into the bottom right corner for an early 1-0 lead.
Right off the kickoff, and nearly like Columbus’ third goal against Atlanta last week, the Five Stripes almost equalized! Attacking down the left side, Galarza floated in a cross towards Tomas Jacob, and his header from the center of the box floated high until it rattled the top left corner of the post.
Two minutes later, United could have had an equalizer again! A deep cross to the back post was lightly parried by Brady, allowing Lobjanidze to quickly play a ball back across the box. Gregersen was there to put the header on frame, but the Fire’s center back Mbokazi tracked back to the empty net and headed the ball off the line! Mbokazi made a crucial sliding tackle just a minute later, blocking an Almiron shot in the box after an incredible through ball met his run on the left side of the final third.
Atlanta were playing extremely well, but like other times this year, there was nothing to show for it. And, in Atlanta United fashion with momentum on their side, they almost went 2-0 down! After a cleared cross 23 minutes in, Andrew Gutman met the rebound with a half volley towards the back post. Robin Lod was unguarded and had an open net in front of him, but scuffed the tap in with his right foot and the ball spun wide of the post.
After some back and forth possession, Atlanta should have scored again in the 31st minute! A great 1-2 between Baez and Almiron saw Baez played through to get off a low cross into the box. It deflected slightly towards Emmanuel Latte Lath, but in front of the six, his attempt to hit the ball on target out of the air went wide left.
The next chance eight minutes later went the way of former Atlanta United left back Andrew Gutman, who was left open at the back post when Latte Lath stepped up to try and clear a cross. However, he misread it, giving Gutman time to head the ball towards goal, but it clanked off the right post.
After Gutman’s effort led to a deflected shot, the ensuing corner saw Chicago hit the woodwork again! Jack Elliot won the initial header at the backpost and the ball fell forward to Jonathan Bamba. He turned to flick the ball out of the air with his right foot towards goal, but it bounced down off the crossbar and was cleared.
In the 42nd minute, a very poor giveaway from Tristan Muyumba allowed Haile-Selassie to attack on the counter from the right side. Mihaj did a great job reaching in to throw off his movement, and although the cross went through Hoyo’s legs when he came out big, Jacob was alone with space to clear the danger. After a Bamba chance from the top of the box went straight to Hoyos a few minutes later, the first half came to the end, Chicago settling for a 1-0 lead.
Credit: Atlanta United
Atlanta were unlucky not to score in the first half, with strong performances out wide from Almiron and Lobjanidze, but a few weaknesses were clear. Going forward, Emmanuel Latte Lath was simply not performing well enough. His main chance in goal was fairly difficult to direct towards frame, but for his price tag and quality, it was a chance he was expected to capitalize on. Additionally, other than when dropping back for buildup play, he consistently made the wrong decisions. He’d try unnecessary 1-2s instead of taking space in the box to shoot, run into congested areas before crosses, and take too many touches with the ball getting trapped under his feet.
Defensively, it didn’t matter how many numbers Atlanta had back because their man-marking was poor, which gave chances to Lod, Gutman, and Bamba. Simple mistakes and giveaways also didn’t help themselves, which gave Halie-Selassie two opportunities. However, the most glaring error was how much space was being given up at the top of and just inside the 18-yard box centrally. There was little organization and too much space between the backline and the CDM Muyumba, with Muyumba often being found out wide trying to mark other players. This space given up allowed Chicago to better push numbers forward and apply pressure in the attack, and it is what directly allowed for the Fire’s goal. It does make me wonder if Tomas Jacob could do a better job as the #6 after a strong opening performance when positioned there against Cincinnati, but that will be Tata’s future decision to make.
The first chance of a calmer second half came in the 56th minute. Enea Mihaj got off a strong header after a corner from the left side, but goalkeeper Chris Brady comfortably dove down to his left and caught the ball.
After a few set pieces from Chicago led to danger due to loosely-marked backpost runs with subsequent crosses cleared, Atlanta’s next chance came around 10 minutes after Mihaj’s. The ball bounced around the box and out to Elias Baez just inside the 18, and his shot towards the bottom right corner was crucially deflected by Andrew Gutman before testing the outstretched Brady.
In the 66th minute, Atlanta made their first substitution, taking off Cooper Sanchez for Steven Alzate.
In the 73rd minute, Chicago got their best chance of the half to that point through Gutman. Good combination from Bamba to Halie-Selassie to Gutman allowed him to cut inside near the 6-yard box and shoot from the left. It flew rapidly towards Hoyos, who parried it away covering the near post, and the play was called back for offside.
One minute later, Chicago had a goal called back for offside! Halie-Selassie was played through in loads of space on the right flank, and his shot one on one with Hoyos went directly through the goalkeeper’s legs after he didn’t decide to come out and close down space. However, the forward was just a step behind the second to last defender.
It took until the 78th minute for acting coach Jorge Theiler to make more substitutions. He chose to make three, with Pedro Amador in for Baez, Luke Brennan in for Saba, and Cayman Togashi in for Latte Lath.
The Fire nearly iced the game four minutes later. A breakaway for Zinckernagel saw him play through Robin Lod with loads of green in front of him, clearly onside but in front of Mihaj. The Atlanta center back sprinted back desperately and did get a touch on the ball near the top of the box, but Bamba ran onto it for a shot attempt. However, Hoyos saved the day in goal, dropping low to make the save with the right side of his chest.
The game’s final chance came in the final minute after multiple shots inside the box, including one inside the six yard box from a diving Miguel Almiron, were blocked or saved, meaning Chicago held on to all 3 points and their 3rd straight victory.
With the result, the Fire move to 3-1-2, good for 6th in the Eastern Conference, and will next play away to Detroit City the Open Cup this Tuesday at 7:30pm EST. Atlanta United, who fall to 1-1-4, 12th in the East and 5th from bottom in the Wooden Spoon race, will play away to Chattanooga FC on Wednesday at 7:30pm EST as well.
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