The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Goalie Guzan replies to D.C. keeper’s comments
WASHINGTON — Though the timing of his rebuke probably wasn’t ideal after a 2-0 loss to D.C. United, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said he was disappointed in counterpart Bill Hamid, who said during a preseason tour that he is a better goalkeeper.
Though Hamid made the statement in January, the quotes were posted on mlssoccer.com on Sunday ahead of the season-opening game between Guzan and Atlanta United and Hamid and D.C. United at Audi Field.
“I’m better than Brad Guzan,” Hamid said. “He’s a cool guy. I don’t know him very well ... but it should be good beating him again.”
Guzan’s response after the game: “When you hear things like that, being a goal- keeper in this league or across the world, there’s something about being in the goalkeepers union, having respect for your colleagues, having respect for the posi- tion, carrying yourself in a professional way,” Guzan said. “Some of us maybe lack in some of those areas.”
Hamid’s resume is considerably thinner than Guzan’s. Hamid has six appearances with the U.S men’s national team. Guzan has 60 and an MLS Cup title. After successful seasons with D.C. United from 2009-17, Hamid’s career stalled after a move to Denmark in 2018, which led to his return to D.C. United last summer.
Guzan made 170 appear- ances in the Premier League and Champi o nship in England before he returned to MLS with Atlanta United.
Both goalkeepers could be competing for a spot on the U.S. men’s national team under new manager Gregg Berhalter, which adds another wrinkle to the com- ments.”It’s disappointing when you see fellow colleagues who are possibly going to be on the same team at some point,” Guzan said. “But that’s for him. You’d have to ask him more about those comments.”
Hamid left the locker room following Guzan’s response and could not be reached for comment. Hamid was named the Man of the Match following Sunday’s game after making two saves. Guzan made four saves.
Guzan said he accepts responsibility for D.C. Unit- ed’s second goal, a low, swerving shot by Luciano Acosta that he said almost handcuffed him. As Guzan began moving to his right, the shot knuckled to his left, skipping past him.”I take that one,” Guzan said. “I won’t let it define me. It’s a long season. Hopefully, I’ve got more saves than mis- takes in the bag. He hit it pure. Nine times out of 10 I would expect to save that.”
Wingbacks showing importance
Atlanta United’s two shots on goal against D.C. United tied for the second-few- est in team history. Both came from at least 20 yards from goal, a clear exam- ple of how badly Atlanta United’s offense struggled to create a decisive play in the final third of the field. There were several reasons for the issues:
■ Hector Villalba had a difficult time staying on his feet;
■ Ezequiel Barco had too many giveaways;
■ The wingbacks, Brek Shea on the left and the left- footed Mikey Ambrose on the right, couldn’t get consistently involved in the offense.
Add it together and Josef Martinez, the reigning MVP and leading goal-scorer from last season, had no service. He had two shots. Neither were on goal.
“We’re going to create more chances, that I’m convinced of,” Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said.
Villalba started in place of Pity Martinez. His first chance to score came when Guzan played him through down the left side with a superb kick. As Villalba ran into the penalty box for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Bill Hamid, he slipped and fell.
Perhaps frustrated, when Villalba got the ball next he would sometimes try to dribble through numer- ous players. He was mostly unsuccessful.
As he struggled, Barco, very dynamic on Thursday against Herediano, created two chances, but also had at least two giveaways. He also struggled to make him- self available off the ball for his teammates.
The biggest issue, though, may have been the inabil- ity of Shea and Ambrose to deliver crosses to Martinez, Barco or Villalba. Shea had four unsuccessful crosses, a few more that were pounded into a defender, and no successful ones. He also had 10 unsuccessful passes. Ambrose also had zero successful crosses and one unsuccessful one.
A look at the 84 completed passes made by both wingbacks shows a single completed effort to a teammate in the penalty box.
De Boer said Shea may have been too hesitant, and again referenced his height as a reason. De Boer also mentioned Shea’s height when discussing why George Bello got the start at Herediano two weeks ago. De Boer said he is confident in Shea and that Ambrose played well considering the challenges.
Ambrose was subbed off in the 59th minute for Julian Gressel. He also didn’t complete any crosses. He had one successful pass near the top of the penalty box.
“We weren’t great with the ball — we seemed to not be able to find the way to unlock their backline in terms of creating some chances,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “We weren’t as sharp as we can be.”
The importance of the wingbacks in de Boer’s 3-4-3 formation of choice is clear. When they put in good crosses or passes, the offense works well as it did in the 4-0 win against Herediano. Not only did Gressel score, but he and Shea combined to make four successful passes or crosses into or near the penalty box, passes that can threaten a defense. They also had three successful crosses.
On top of the struggles at D.C. United, a look at the 3-1 loss to Herediano in Costa Rica shows another goal by Gressel, but no successful crosses from him or George Bello, two key passes (both by Gressel), one of which was the only successful pass into or near the penalty box.
When the wingbacks are successful, it can stretch the opponent’s defense and create seams that either Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez, Barco or Villalba can try to exploit.
When they can’t, the field gets narrow and it’s more difficult to generate offense.