Player Impressions: ATLUTD 0-0 DC United

Hoyos was rarely tested. D.C. failed to record an official shot on target, and Atlanta's back line handled most of the danger before it reached him. His best plays came when he rushed out. He read several long balls early and came forward decisively to keep D.C. from getting the ball. One rushed goal kick nearly created a problem in the 26th minute, but an offside call prevented D.C. from taking advantage.

Jacob produced a steadier defensive performance, although he still has lapses in judgement. He was fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty after getting both arms high against Louis Munteanu. He was caught tying his laces while play continued early in the second half.

His eagerness to score is beginning to work against him. Jacob sent a promising attempt over the crossbar from outside the area and later drove another shot or cross into a defender. Atlanta would benefit more from better deliveries into the box than from Jacob continuing to search for another unlikely goal.

Alonso helped organize a back line that kept D.C. from recording a shot on target. He supplied some of Atlanta's best forward passes. His long balls repeatedly found Almirón in space behind D.C.'s midfield. One reached the six-yard area in the 22nd minute and gave Almirón an opportunity that he could not quite reach. Alonso was removed in the 57th minute despite looking comfortable in defense and effective with his distribution.

Mihaj made another strong case for remaining in the starting lineup. He read danger early, moved quickly, and provided several of Atlanta's best defensive interventions. His block in the 24th minute prevented a simple finish at the back post. He guided another dangerous ball out of play shortly after halftime, made an important clearance in the 67th minute, and stepped forward to strip the ball from D.C. during a counterattack in the 74th. Mihaj also contributed several accurate long passes as Atlanta pushed for a winner.

This was one of Báez's better attacking performances. Tata recognized the attempted overload on his side and gave him additional support. This solidified his defensive duties and allowed him to push forward. Báez continually found space high up the pitch and sent in several dangerous balls. His one-touch cross in the 43rd minute found Almirón for one of Atlanta's best chances of the first half. He followed it with two more good deliveries before halftime.

Amaro played as Atlanta's deepest midfielder and went about his work. He got open during Atlanta's buildup, protected the space ahead of the back line, and allowed Cooper Sanchez and Jay Fortune to play farther forward.

His most obvious mistake came in the 36th minute, when he challenged Munteanu from behind and received a yellow. Outside of that moment, there was little to criticize.

Sanchez's performance improved when the players around him changed. He was isolated during much of the first half, with Amaro sitting deeper and Fortune frequently moving into an advanced midfield position. The arrival of Gill and Muyumba gave Sanchez more support and allowed him to become more involved.

He should have done better with a attempted chip over Sean Johnson. But he's making good passes to the final 3rd. Overall, Sanchez looked better when the subs came on and gave him more support.

More of the rust came off Fortune in his second consecutive start. He began reading passes earlier, moved into better positions, and looked more comfortable than he had against Orlando. Fortune protected the near post during a dangerous D.C. corner in the 24th minute and made several productive runs. This was a meaningful step forward, but there is still more he can contribute as his fitness returns.

Almirón's performance is difficult to easily judge. He dropped deep during the first half to help Báez on the left, but that regularly left Atlanta without enough runners up top. He was far more dangerous after moving higher in the second half.

His movement, distribution, and relationship with Alonso and Báez created repeated chances. But he couldn't finish. Almirón failed to reach Alonso's excellent ball in the 22nd minute, sent Báez's cross off the outside of the post, and dragged a clear opportunity wide after Edwards carried the ball into the penalty area. He should have scored tonight.

Miranchuk had little to no influence during the first half. He did not help Atlanta control the midfield and struggled to create anything in the final third. That changed completely after halftime. Miranchuk moved more central, and saw more of the ball. He began directing Atlanta's attacks. His passing helped connect several of Atlanta's best combinations, and his sudden shot in the 86th minute forced Sean Johnson into a save.

His second half performance is what Atlanta needs from him.

Embolo spent too much of the match playing like an attacking midfielder. Some of that was forced by D.C., which regularly placed two or three defenders around him whenever he remained high. Dropping deeper allowed Embolo to receive the ball, protect it, and help Atlanta move forward. But it also left Atlanta without its striker near goal.

His decision-making hurt Atlanta late. After working his way past a defender, Embolo failed at passing through 3 D.C. players instead of taking a shot. More egregious, he didn't follow Picault's run which left no runner in the box. His bicycle kick off the post was spectacular, but he was offside, and it would not have counted.

Another electric night. He played deeper than Miranchuk and Muyumba, and yet was comfortable carrying the ball through pressure up the pitch. His work without the ball was just as impressive. After a blocked shot, Gill tracked a runner from D.C.'s arc all the way to Atlanta's penalty area without committing a foul, and prevented a pass. He later stripped Hosei Kijima near midfield during stoppage in a commanding play. His footwork took him through three defenders in the 88th minute, and his final delivery created Brennan's header off the crossbar.

Gill has earned an opportunity to start. He reads the game well, passes confidently, and is willing to attempt difficult moves under pressure.

Picault provided a couple of energetic runs. He used two stepovers to reach the corner and delivered a ball into the area, but Embolo had not begun his run in time. There was little else to Picault's game. He gave Atlanta fresh speed on the left without getting the ball to a player in the box.

Atlanta's attack was more effective on the right after he replaced Alonso in the 57th minute, with Jacob moving central. He carried the ball forward confidently and gave Atlanta a more efficient outlet that had been missing on that side. His best run took him from inside Atlanta's half to the edge of D.C.'s penalty area. Edwards is becoming more effective at getting forward and delivering the ball into dangerous areas.

Brennan had only a few minutes after replacing Sanchez, but he nearly got the winner. Gill's delivery found him near the six-yard area in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Brennan rose for the header and struck the crossbar with Atlanta's final opportunity. He made a meaningful impact despite not having enough time to become fully involved.

Muyumba fought through tough challenges, connected well with Almirón and Miranchuk, and helped Atlanta advance the ball more quickly. His yellow card came after Báez's loose pass allowed Matti Peltola to begin a counterattack. Muyumba brought Peltola down before D.C. could turn transition. It was a necessary professional foul.

The starters generally worked. But the first half was too timid. Atlanta turned up the gas in the 2nd, and the subs changed the game in Atlanta's favor. Removing Alonso was surprising at first. It allowed Jacob to move central, and get Edwards acting as a distributor up the right.