ATLUTD starts fast, fades in 3-1 loss at Vancouver

Starting Lineup

Atlanta United struck first in Vancouver, but the early lead only framed how sharply the match turned. Greg Garza scored in the sixth minute, then Kendall Waston answered twice before halftime to put Atlanta behind. Vancouver did its damage through Kendall Waston. The Whitecaps captain scored in the 30th minute to make it 1-1, then scored again in the 43rd to send Vancouver into halftime ahead 2-1. Fredy Montero added the third in the 67th, and Atlanta never found a second goal.

Atlanta had more of the ball, but Vancouver had more shots and better finishing. Atlanta attempted 520 passes to Vancouver’s 257 and completed 424 to Vancouver’s 170. Vancouver outshot Atlanta 16-7, put five shots on target to Atlanta’s three, and turned those chances into three goals.

1st Half

Atlanta took the lead in the sixth minute. Asad helped start the move, Gressel played the final pass, and Garza finished it to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead at BC Place.

The lead carried Atlanta through the next stretch, but Vancouver pulled level in the 30th minute. Waston scored for the Whitecaps, making it 1-1 and resetting the match after Atlanta’s early goal.

Vancouver struck again before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Waston scored his second goal of the half, turning Atlanta’s early lead into a 2-1 deficit. The first-half whistle came with the Whitecaps in front and Atlanta needing to recover from a half that had shifted on two Waston goals.

2nd Half

Atlanta came out of halftime trailing 2-1 and spent the opening stretch of the second half looking for the equalizer. The match stayed there until the hour mark, when Almirón went into the book and Atlanta began to change its shape. Martino made his first move in the 66th minute, bringing on Kenwyne Jones for Larentowicz.

One minute later, Vancouver scored again. Montero made it 3-1, giving the Whitecaps their third unanswered goal and leaving Atlanta with a two-goal deficit and looking out of ideas.

From there, Atlanta would see more of the ball. But couldn’t find a way to generate much of an attacking movement.

The match ended 3-1, with Waston’s two first-half goals turning the night and Montero’s second-half goal putting it out of reach.

Closing Thoughts

Atlanta had more of the ball, but Vancouver made more of its chances. Atlanta attempted 520 passes to Vancouver’s 257 and completed 424 to Vancouver’s 170, but the Whitecaps outshot Atlanta 16-7 and put five shots on target to Atlanta’s three.

Garza, González Pírez, and Almirón each put one shot on frame for Atlanta. Vancouver got two goals from Waston, who also finished with seven defensive clearances, and a second-half goal from Montero to close the match.

That was the difference at BC Place. Atlanta’s early lead came through Garza in the sixth minute, but Waston answered twice before halftime and Montero added the third in the 67th. Atlanta had enough possession to stay in the match, but Vancouver had the finishing that decided it.