Tie vs. KC gives boost to United

Five Stripes start long break after showing some resilience Sunday.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. — The done-to-death chant of “I believe that we will win” began echoing around Children’s Mercy Park, led by the supporters’ groups in the Blue Hell section of Sporting KC’s home.

Frustrated for the game’s first 90 minutes with just one shot against a stout defense, Atlanta United poured players forward in the final minutes of Sunday night’s game, trying to nab that elusive goal. And then came one of those moments that may determine if the Five Stripes make the playoffs.

Michael Parkhurst chipped a pass into Brandon Vazquez, who entered as a sub in the 83th minute. Vazquez trapped the pass on his chest and then headed it toward the net.

Sporting KC’s Matt Besler dove to clear the ball, only to see it bounce off a group of players to Jacob Peterson, a former Sporting KC player (2012-16) who signed with Atlanta United as a free agent. Peterson took one touch with his right foot and hit a left-footed shot into the lower left corner to tie the game in the first minute of injury time.

The chant stopped. The game finished 1-1.

“That’s too good,” said Vazquez. “The fact that Jacob put it in ... that’s too good.”

Here are five observations about the game:

Resilience. Atlanta United scored a tying goal in the final minutes for the second consecutive week. Hector Villalba did so last week in a draw with Orlando City.

“Completely different circumstances,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “Last week, we deserved to win. Tonight, we should have lost.”

Atlanta United has earned 16 points from its 13 road games, second-most in MLS to Toronto (17 points from 12 games).

“It was important for us to get a point,” Peterson said. “It’s something we can draw on later in the year.”

The expectation. The game featured Atlanta United’s league-leading offense (41 goals) against Sporting KC’s league-leading defense (17 goals allowed). But neither team could maintain possession in a game that was as sloppy with its play as its officiating.

Playing without injured striker Josef Martinez for the third consecutive game and left fullback Greg Garza, who suffered a separated shoulder during the MLS All-Star game in Chicago last week, Atlanta United’s offense couldn’t get on track, particularly down the left, where Mikey Ambrose was in for Garza. Some of that had to do with Sporting KC’s disciplined defense.

The first goal. Sporting KC grabbed its lead in the 58th minute on a penalty kick by Benny Feilhaber. The penalty was called on Leandro Gonzalez Pirez for taking down Latif Blessing in the box.

It looked as if Blessing may have dove after Pirez shouldered him off the ball, but referee Chris Penso quickly pointed to the spot.

Martino was not pleased with the officiating, saying afterwards that the league needs to be tougher on players who dive and/or fake injuries, and that the penalty against Blessing shouldn’t have been called.

“For me, it wasn’t a penalty,” Martino said. “There was also a play in which he went down injured, left the field and then sprinted onto the field faster than he had the rest of the game.

“In this league, sometimes the refs don’t punish players for simulation enough.”

Ambrose as a starter. Ambrose made his first start in the league this season. Without Garza, there wasn’t much offense coming down the left side. Ambrose got involved a few times, but he wasn’t the threat that Garza has become.

Ambrose said he wants to improve his confidence and build some chemistry with his teammates before his next start.

“It was a great experience, a lot of fun,” he said. “I worked really hard defensively. Offensively, I tried to find the ball a little bit. I think I’m improving.”

The break. Atlanta United (10-7-5) will have more than two weeks off before it plays at D.C. United on Aug. 23 and then at Philadelphia on Aug. 26.

The team should have all of its injured players back in training by Aug. 18, with the possible exception of goalkeeper Alec Kann.