Atlanta United gave renewing season-ticket holders a pair of commemorative pins with an Olympic motif celebrating the 35-year anniversary of Atlanta being awarded the Olympics before Saturday’s match against San Diego.
Memories of the Summer Games were the only thing worth celebrating after Atlanta United failed to experience the thrill of victory or agony of defeat after a 1-1 draw with San Diego at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I want to push to get everything we can out of these last games,” manager Ronny Deila said. “But again, we ended up with one instead of three points in the game when we have more chances than the opponent.”
Atlanta United’s home league winless streak reached six, going back to beating Orlando on May 28, in front of an announced attendance of 43,499. Atlanta United (5-13-12) has one win its past six with four matches remaining in its playoff-less season. In a decidedly non-Olympic stat, the Five Stripes have more draws than any team in MLS.
In a whatever’s-less-than-bronze of a season, Atlanta United didn’t win because it gave up another goal because of a simple mistake. Atlanta United dominated the match after the error by Steven Alzate but could only benefit by Miguel Almirón scoring the tying goal after Jamal Thiare won a penalty kick in the second half.
“We continue doing good things, but because of mistakes, we end up going down 1-0 and having to try to come back,” Almirón said. “I think, right now, it’s about learning from the bad, from the mistakes this year and trying to be better next year.”
Atlanta United took 17 shots, putting six on goal, for an expected goals total of 1.99. San Diego, whose seven-match road-winning streak was snapped, finished with six and four for an expected goals total of 0.80.
Deila’s lineup was composed of striker Thiare, midfielders Alexey Miranchuk, Almirón, Saba Lobjanidze, Bartosz Slisz and Alzate, fullbacks Ronald Hernandez and Pedro Amador, central defenders Juan Berrocal, making his first start, and Stian Gregersen, and goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert, making his fourth consecutive start.
San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute on a goal by Anders Dreyer, who was unmarked 8 yards from goal for an easy one-timed shot. Hirving Lozano stole the ball from Alzate at the top of the 18-yard box and crossed it to Dreyer before Atlanta United’s defenders could get into position. The goal was similar to several scored by Columbus in the first half of last week’s 5-4 loss.
Alzate said he couldn’t get the ball out from his feet when Lozano approached.
Thiare appeared to be taken down by Manu Duah in San Diego’s 18-yard box in the 41st minute. A video review decided that there was no foul and subsequently no penalty kick for Atlanta United.
As was the case against Columbus, Atlanta United began to find a rhythm to its passing and a purpose to its tactics in the second half.
Almirón hit the crossbar with a half-volley in the 57th minute with Atlanta United’s 10th shot. San Diego had taken two shots, with just the one on goal.
Thiare won a penalty in the 60th minute when he was taken down by goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos while both attempted to get to a seeking pass from Gregersen. Almirón converted the penalty to tie the match at 1 in the 61st minute. It was Almirón’s fifth goal, third by penalty kick.
Emmanuel Latte Lath, Brooks Lennon and Luke Brennan subbed on for Lobjanidze, Thiare and Hernandez in the 76th minute.
Almirón was denied a second goal because of a diving save by Dos Santos in the 93rd minute.
“It’s frustrating that we don’t win,” Gregersen said. “We met a good team today, the best on the West, so very similar to what we met against Columbus. There was more discipline this game, more compact, and like last game, we cannot concede so many goals. We shouldn’t concede that one goal there, but it happened, so it’s good that we came back in the second half.”
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
