Atlanta’s riches show up on field against Union

There wasn’t much for Union manager Jim Curtin to say Wednesday night that the previous 90 minutes against Atlanta United didn’t convey.

The Union were beaten soundly, 3-0, nearly run off the field in the first half by a rampant Atlanta attack that dominated 70 percent of possession and forced Andre Blake into five saves, several of the spectacular variety. In the process, Atlanta booked its place in the MLS Cup playoffs, while the Union crept ever closer to official elimination from the playoffs, an infinitesimally small chance that could well be extinguished before they take the field against Seattle Sunday.

Putting a bow on that didn’t require the orator’s touch.

“We got outplayed by a better team tonight,” Curtin said. “Atlanta was sharp tonight from the opening whistle. Outplayed us thoroughly in the first half.”

The Union (9-13-9, 36 points) had to bridge a vast gulf in talent with Atlanta, which pressed from the start and barely allowed the Union possession in the attacking half much less near the box in the first 45 minutes. The incessant waves of pressure resulted in a breakthrough in the 27th when defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez slipped a ball down the left channel that Julian Gressel latched onto and snapped off a quick shot that perhaps caught Blake by surprise.

Josef Martinez doubled the advantage within six minutes, Gressel turning provider for the Venezuelan’s 18th goal in his 17th game and 14th start. In the face of those attacking luminaries — plus Hector Villalba, who set up Jacob Peterson’s capper in the 88th — the Union were more staving off disaster than playing soccer.

But the Union hit back in the second half, finally getting a foot in the game to maintain some semblance of the ball. They outshot Atlanta, 9-7, in the second half after a 9-1 disadvantage in the first, and created a handful of dangerous moments.

Fafa Picault blasted a shot into Brad Guzan’s hands in the 51st minute. CJ Sapong redirected a Fabinho cross in the 80th minute that forced Guzan into a save, and Guzan denied Jack Elliott’s volley at the death to preserve the shutout.

“Guys were a little more confident on the ball,” Curtin said. “Obviously it’s easier when you’re down 2-0 to be brave and be confident. But I thought they actually put together some passes. Our pressing was a little better with more urgency.”

That’s hollow consolation at the end of a long and lost season. And the juxtaposition between the ascendency of Atlanta as arguably the best post-millennium expansion side and a Union franchise that can still recall its inaugural season is stark.

Atlanta (15-8-7, 52 points) sits third in the East, a legitimate contender to push Toronto FC in what would be a scintillating conference final, if it comes to pass. The Five Stripes’ 15 wins this season is more than the Union have had in any of its eight seasons, six of which did not include playoff soccer. The Union franchisehigh is 12 wins. It took the Union 46 games before notching a 15th franchise victory.

Among the 13 new MLS franchises to begin operation since 2005, Atlanta’s win total easily bests the previous record of 12 (held by Seattle in 2009, Montreal in 2012 and Orlando City in 2015). Atlanta’s 1.73 points per game is on pace to top the Sounders (1.57).

All that is to say what can be read between the lines of Curtin’s comments: Atlanta, with its $1.5 billion stadium and NFL-rich owner, is playing at a different level than the Union.

“They punished us because they do have quality on their team,” Curtin said. “And just overall, we got outplayed by a better team tonight.”