Saint-Maximin Overwhelms Atlanta Backline & Charlotte FC Wins 2-0
- Calum Ewing
- Aug 29
- 5 min read
Credit Atlanta United Communications
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Backed by a dominant performance from Allan Saint-Maximin and goals from Idan Toklomati and Liel Abada, Charlotte FC went away to Atlanta United and once again came out victorious. Despite an unbelievable effort in goal by Lucas Hoyos, the Five Stripes were flat in attack, and fell 2-0 to their rivals Saturday night.
Atlanta United only made two changes to their starting lineup from last week's 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. One was forced, with left back Elias Baez out due to yellow card suspension, so Matt Edwards stepped up to replace him. The other was a choice in the midfield, as Adrian Gill was removed after a string of impressive starts since his MLS NEXT Pro call-up in favor of Will Reilly.
From kickoff, both teams battled to break each other down, with Charlotte pressing heavy early and Atlanta the more direct side playing over the top. The first chance of the match would come in the 17th minute for the Crown. A deflection on a through ball caused the ball to split the Atlanta backline and find the feet of Idan Toklomati in a 1v1. His effort was saved by Lucas Hoyos, who flew out of goal and made himself big, but most important was his second save, a reaching effort to parry away a dangerous rebound attempt from Djibril Diani.
It was an opportunity that could have been very unfortunate to miss depending on the result, but Charlotte responded with a goal five minutes later. Recent signing Allan Saint-Maximin, former Newcastle teammate of Miguel Almiron, was rapid down the line and blew past Tomas Jacob. Now in space on the left side of the final third, he whipped in a cross to the back post for starman Pep Biel, wide open after Matt Edwards completely lost his mark. Biel would slide forward to square the ball across the diving Hoyos to an open Toklomati, who finished the opportunity with ease for the 1-0 lead. The thousands of Charlotte fans in the crowd may have been split into two different tiers, but they were united in their chants of "TOK-LO-MA-TI", and Atlanta hadn't installed confidence that a quick response was to come.
In the 32nd minute, there was no response from the home side, only a push from Charlotte for a second goal. Hitting on the counter attack, Toklomati went around Paulo Diaz, who misjudged the flight of the ball after an excellent performace to that point, and found himself again in a 1v1 versus Lucas Hoyos. Hoyos timed his approach to the edge of the box, and as Toklomati tried to go around the keeper to his left, Atlanta's number one dove to swallow the ball and instantly end the threat.
Credit: Atlanta United Communications
Atlanta finally started to threaten Kristijan Kahlina in goal a minute later, after a nice turn and back heel flick from Miguel Almiron gave Alexey Miranchuk the time and space for a shot from outside the 18. It was blocked, as was a chance on the volley by Tristan Muyumba from an Almiron cross a few minutes later. The ensuing corner gave Muyumba another opportunity 20 yards out, but his curling effort towards the top left corner went over the bar.
In the 3rd and final minute of stoppage time, Charlotte would threaten on the counter again with Saint Maximin driving forward. Cooper Sanchez allowed too much space on the left flank during the transition to defense, so Maximin found Liel Abada for a shot inside the box. However, Hoyos was the hero yet again, rising up to his right and punching away the rocket at the near post. With that, the referee blew for halftime, and Atlanta would need to make many adjustments coming out of the locker room.
The Crown's pressure and counter attacking threat was reminiscent of 2018 Atlanta United, and while Hoyos was standing on his head to keep the Five Stripes in the match, he could only do so much. The midfield presence was nonexistent for the most part, strong performances from the CB duo were being held back by Matt Edward's sluggish man-marking (though he did do well at the point of attack in 1v1 scenarios), and Fafa Picault was struggling as the 9. The need for true wingers to start in Atlanta was never more implied, but how could Atlanta adjust with what was available?
They could not adjust in the slightest.
Just three minutes into the second half, Saint Maximin blew past more than a couple of Atlanta United defenders and dished the ball off to his right side for Liel Abada. The red-hot winger continued his spell of good form by cutting inside to beat Junior Alonso and placing his finish into the top left corner past Hoyos. The away sections rose with jubilee and the rest of the Benz was deflated, as the 2-0 lead seemed too much for the Five Stripes to confront.
Atlanta seemed semi-threatening in the 60th minute as an Edwards cross came dangerously close to meeting Almiron's run inside the 6-yard box, but Kahlina flew forward out of goal to collect the ball well.
Credit: Atlanta United Communications
Four minutes later, United made four substitions, with Santos, Gill, Alzate, and Hernandez in for Reilly, Picault, Muyumba, and Edwards. The changes did not change the on-field product, however, as the next chance went Charlotte's way. Toklomati rose up on a corner in the 67th minute and fired it towards goal, but it bounced wide right of the back post.
The last real chance for Atlanta came in the 78th minute, as an Alexey Miranchuk effort at the top of the box defelcted off a Charlotte defender's head and hit the top of the net. Deflections and blocks were the story defining why Atlanta felt so toothless going for (ignoring the lack of midfield and frontline movement). Every cross was blocked, every shot was blocked, and the Crown did a fantastic job holding their line for a clean sheet.
After full time, Kahlina turned to the Charlotte faithful holding up four fingers, noting that this is the Black & Blue's 4th stragith win in Atlanta United's home ground. This stat, and the contrast being true when Atlanta goes away and wins often, plus the thousands of traveling away fans every match, is turning the Charlotte vs. Atlanta match into a true organic rivalry.
Atlanta United will next face a tough away test against Inter Miami, coming off a whopping 7-1 win over CF Montreal. Lionel Messi recorded 4 goals and 1 assist. If the hype over a potential rebound playoff run is to hold any legitimacy for the Five Stripes, they must beat the odds and defeat Inter away on Saturday at 7:30pm.
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