The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Winless streak continues with another slow start.
Atlanta United’s stretch of three games in eight days ended with a 0-0 draw against New York Red Bulls on Sunday in Mercedes-benz Stadium. The team earned just two points, both at
home, from the three games and may have lost midfield- ers Franco Ibarra and Jurgen Damm to injuries.
With the draw, Atlanta United (2-2-6) is winless in its past five and has 12 points from its first 10 games under manager Gabriel Heinze. The total is tied for the team’s second-fewest in its first five seasons.
Atlanta United has scored just 11 goals in the 10 games and was shut out in consec- utive games for the first time this season. It finished with 13 shots, just three on goal, to Red Bulls’ seven and four.
“Obviously it’s tough when you aren’t scoring goals,” midfielder Santiago Sosa said. “Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t want to go in and right now it’s not going in.”
The team also remains winless against the Red Bulls
in regular-season games, falling to 0-6-3.
The defense posted its third shutout this season.
Heinze went back to the starting lineup used a week ago in a draw with Philadel- phia, the game that started the streak and the team’s best chance for a win. It gave up two goals in the final 10 minutes to drop two points. It followed with a 1-0 loss at NYCFC, in United’s worst performance this season.
On Sunday, Erick Torres started at striker with a mid- field of Erik Lopez, Ezequiel Barco, Marcelino Moreno, Ibarra and Santiago Sosa. Fullbacks were Brooks Lennon and George Bello. Centerbacks were Miles Robinson and Anton Walkes. Brad Guzan started in goal.
The team was without midfielder Damm, who picked up another “lower body” injury after recently returning from a similar issue; striker Josef
Martinez, who was with Venezuela for the Copa America tournament; and Emerson Hyndman, who is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Red Bulls were without several key players, including center- back Aaron Long and mid- fielders Daniel Royer and Cristian Casseres.
Atlanta United started slowly, as has been the case in most games this season. It was slow to most of the loose balls.
The team lost Ibarra to a hamstring injury in the 34th minute. He appeared to go down without contact. Centerback Alan Franco came in for Ibarra in the 37th minute.
Franco promptly gave up the ball with a horrible back pass to no one. New York’s Dru Yearwood was first to the ball. He passed to Patryk Klimala, who shot and forced Guzan into a double save in the 39th minute. He blocked the first shot and then turned around and stopped the ball from rolling over the line.
The switch to three center- backs, which pushed Sosa, Bello and Lennon higher up the field, enabled Atlanta United to begin to control possession and the game. Atlanta United’s first shot on goal came in the 46th minute when Torres hit the ball with his thigh from 18 yards right at the goalkeeper.
Jake Mulraney came on for Lopez in the 71st min- ute. Atlanta United had a bright spell of possession in the next few minutes but, as has been the case in most games, couldn’t convert it into goals. Shots by Walkes, Moreno and Sosa were either hit wide or saved.
Moreno forced a save in the 83rd minute after reaching an excellent cross by Mulraney. A shot by Torres was blocked in the 89th minute. Another shot, a header by Robinson, hit the post a few seconds later.
“Both teams were phys- ical, strong,” Heinze said. “Both teams like to position themselves close to the opponents . ... in the second half we changed our position on the field. We found the style of play we wanted.”
After the game, Venezuela was eliminated from the Copa America, which means Josef Martinez and fullback Ronald Hernandez could return Saturday at Chicago. Both players are vaccinated against COVID-19, but Marti
nez reportedly tested positive for the virus while with Venezuela. It’s not yet known if he will have to quarantine.