ATLUTD’s shot volume goes unrewarded in 3-1 loss to D.C. United

Starting Lineup

Atlanta United’s first home loss arrived in a match that looked, for long stretches, like something else entirely.

The numbers said Atlanta had enough of the ball, enough territory, and more than enough attempts to take something from DC. But only the score matters. DC United left Bobby Dodd Stadium with a 3-1 win as it converted the moments Atlanta could not, turning nine shots into three goals while Atlanta’s 26-shot night produced only Kenwyne Jones’ early opener.

1st Half

Atlanta started with the shape and personnel Tata Martino had leaned on through the opening stretch of the season: Alec Kann in goal; Greg Garza, Leandro González Pírez, Michael Parkhurst and Tyrone Mears across the back; Carlos Carmona and Julian Gressel in midfield; Miguel Almirón central, with Yamil Asad and Héctor Villalba wide; and Kenwyne Jones up front.

Atlanta’s opener came in the eighth minute, and it was as direct as it needed to be. Asad drove the ball into the box from the left, Jones met it, and Atlanta had the early lead.

For a while, Atlanta kept arriving in those areas. Villalba looked dangerous when he got turned toward goal, Garza kept joining the attack from the left, and Almirón found enough space between DC’s lines to keep the visitors uncomfortable. The chances were there. The problem was that Atlanta only turned one of them into a goal.

DC pulled level in the 24th minute, when Lamar Neagle’s attempted cross took a deflection off Parkhurst and slipped inside the near post. Atlanta had scored first, but the own goal gave DC a way back into a match that had been leaning toward the home side.

The bigger swing came in the 36th minute. Luciano Acosta carried the ball into space near the top of the area and beat Kann to put DC ahead. Atlanta had spent the half creating more of the attacking volume, but DC had been cleaner with the chances it found.

Atlanta went into halftime down 2-1 after giving DC two goals that did not require sustained pressure. The first came from a deflection. The second came from Acosta finding space and finishing from distance. Atlanta had done enough attacking to lead, but it had also left DC enough room to punish the mistakes.

2nd Half

DC made it 3-1 in the 54th minute. Le Toux ran in behind Atlanta’s back line, got himself alone against Kann, and finished the chance. Atlanta had gone from leading 1-0 to trailing by two, and all three DC goals had come without the visitors needing to spend long stretches in control.

Martino went to the bench in the 59th minute, bringing on Kevin Kratz for Gressel. Brandon Vázquez replaced Carmona in the 72nd minute, giving Atlanta another target as it chased the game, and Chris McCann came on for Asad in the 83rd.

Atlanta kept pushing after the changes. Villalba continued to find shots, Vázquez added three attempts in his short appearance, and Hamid remained the player Atlanta could not get past.

Atlanta’s best route back into the match kept running through Villalba. Villalba kept getting looks at goal, finishing with eight shots and five on target, but Hamid saved everything Atlanta put on frame after Jones’ opener. Vázquez added three more attempts after coming on, giving Atlanta another presence in the box, but the second goal never came.

Closing Thoughts

The numbers tell a strange story. Atlanta finished with 26 attempts and seven on target, compared to nine shots and seven on target for DC The difference was what happened after the shots were taken. Hamid made six saves, Kann made four, and Villalba put five of his eight attempts on target without finding a goal.

Atlanta’s shots kept coming without changing the score. Hamid kept saving, DC kept the two-goal lead, and the gap between Atlanta’s volume and DC’s finishing became the story of the match.

Acosta scored once and helped create another. Le Toux finished the third. Hamid made six saves and kept Atlanta from turning its shot volume into a comeback.

Atlanta kept chasing. DC kept the lead. Atlanta had more shots, but DC had the goals.