2 own-goals send atlanta united to 3-0 win over La Galaxy
ATLANTA — Atlanta United is back in a familiar spot.
First place. Pressing the attack right from the start, the reigning MLS Cup champions scored a pair of own-goals in the first half and got a penalty kick from Josef Martinez to finish off a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday, pushing the reigning MLS Cup champions into a tie for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
“This is the goal,” firstyear coach Frank de Boer said. “We want to be on top. We want to be the hunted.”
United (12-9-3) pulled even with Philadelphia at 39 points, stretching its home unbeaten streak to 10 games in a matchup between two of the league’s top teams. Atlanta has never allowed a goal to the Galaxy, recording three straight shutouts since entering the league in 2017.
With the upper deck opened up and another MLS record crowd of 72,548 rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home team responded with one of its best performances in what has been an up-and-down season.
The Galaxy (12-10-1) provided plenty of help.
In the 23rd minute, Florentin Pogba retrieved a long ball at the Atlanta end of the field and worked it up to Ezequiel Barco racing through the midfield. Barco slid a nifty pass to Pity Martinez, who broke into the clear down the right side. Martinez tried to work the ball in front, where both Barco and Josef Martinez were lurking, but the pass struck defender Dave Romney, sliding across the area on his back, and deflected past helpless goalkeeper David Bingham.
Atlanta made it 2-0 with a nearly identical play in the 43rd. This time, Justin Meram sprinted free down the left side and looked to get the ball to Josef Martinez, who was open in front of the net. Defender Giancarlo Gonzalez slid across to block the pass and wound up doing the same thing as Romney — deflecting the ball past Bingham.