Another positive performance turned sour for Altanta United against Nashville yesterday.
Another game of dominating possession. Half time we went in 2 goals up with 68% possession. 90 minutes we’ve surrendered the win, conceded two goals and are lucky to scrape one point from the fixture.
Atlanta United came flying out of the gates from the very beginning of the match and for the second game in a row a Miles Robinson pass led to a quality chance for Atlanta United to score. This time, the center back was credited with his first MLS assist after finding Marcelino Moreno running in behind Nashville’s backline for a fifth minute goal to put Atlanta ahead of its opposition.
That goal makes Moreno Atlanta’s leading goalscorer in MLS action with three goals this season. Robinson continued to play exquisite passes to his teammates throughout the match, and he finished the first half with two chances created, 49 touches and 41 passes, the most of any player in those three categories through the first 45 minutes. It’s been quite the evolution for Robinson.
Erik Lopez also secured a “first” today, scoring his first goal for the Five Stripes in the 51st minute. Moreno picked the ball up in Atlanta’s half, carried it into the attacking third and found Bello out wide. Bello then crossed into the path of the unmarked Erik Lopez for his first career Atlanta United goal. Both Bello and Moreno were credited with an assist in the buildup to the goal.
“It was a beautiful feeling to score my first goal for Atlanta United, and it felt amazing to do it in this stadium,” Lopez said. “It’s something that I’ll always remember for the rest of my life.”
For most of the match, Atlanta’s attack looked as good as it had all season, dissembling Nashville’s 400+ minute clean sheet run in the process. Pair that with Atlanta’s fairly good defensive record and it was easy to imagine that Atlanta would walk away with three points. That’s when Hany Mukhtar stepped in.
Moments after Brad Guzan made a save with the literal tip of his foot, Nashville’s Mukhtar got one past Guzan in the 81st minute. Mukhtar, an unmarked forward in Atlanta’s penalty area, scored Nashville’s equalizer two minutes later to make it 2-2.
Changes are needed
And I dont mean every game
We seem to have an unsettled starting 11. As we see around the world, the established top teams find their 11 and they stick to it, making the odd change for injuries or absentees. Atlanta at present are changing their team every week. We need a pairing at CB which I thought would be Franco and Robinson, however Sosa is their one week, the next week Walkes is in. This isn’t the only issue, one week we have 3 at the back with Sosa as central with Bello and Lennon attacking. The next week 4 at the back with Bello and Lennon kept back. Its confusing to watch and it must be unsettling to play. Sosa has been a clinical member of this 2021 team, however where does Heinze want him to play? Is he a CDM, CB or a CM??
We need a fixed formation and a fixed 11, this is the only way the mistakes and sloppiness will stop. Players need a structure and a strong team chemistry to win competitions and its something we don’t have at the moment.
This fixtures outcome was the difference between going second with a game in hand over the leaders to ending up 8th sat a midtable. Now only 2 wins from 7 games.
5 Stripe News 