At Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Atlanta United and LAFC squared off in an interconference game. Both teams had 99 victories in their respective MLS regular season records going into the match. The game saw two red cards, one of which was awarded to Atlanta United’s goalie Brad Guzan. In the second half, the defending Western Conference champions won this round 1-0 thanks to a straight free kick conversion.
Atlanta United is still chasing its 100th regular-season victory, which would mark the team’s first victory since March.
In fact, the MLS leader in shots on goal made the first attempt on Saturday. In the opening minute of play, Denis Bouanga, the 2023 Golden Boot winner, struck a shot from outside the box that fell straight into Guzan’s palms. A few minutes later, in the seventh minute, Atlanta paid it forward. Although Xande Silva’s low effort was on target, Hugo Lloris of LAFC was not entirely frozen by its quickness.
LAFC attacked quickly and fearlessly; in the first half alone, they took 11 shots, four of which were on goal. Mateusz Bogusz made a vertical run in the 17th minute after a pass was put over-the-top to the Atlanta United goalkeeper, posing a serious test.
After beating his defender, Bogusz had Guzan one on one inside the box. The midfielder found the back of Atlanta United’s large, bald wall with a left footed strike, preventing the visitors from scoring for the time being.
Actually, on Saturday, the MLS leader in shots on goal made the initial effort. Denis Bouanga, the 2023 Golden Boot winner, sent a shot from outside the box that went right into Guzan’s hands in the first minute of play. Atlanta returned the favor a few minutes later, in the seventh minute. Hugo Lloris of LAFC was not completely stopped by the rapidity of Xande Silva’s low effort, even if it was on target.
LAFC launched a swift and daring attack, attempting 11 attempts in the first half alone, four of which found the net. In the seventeenth minute, Mateusz Bogusz presented a serious challenge by going vertically after the Atlanta United goalie received a pass over-the-top.
For the remainder of the game, Atlanta United would use 10 men. Josh Cohen, the goalie, was brought on as a substitute and started the game at goalkeeper after making back-to-back starts in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Cohen made his MLS regular season debut with the appearance.
About 20 yards from goal, where the infraction happened, LAFC was given a direct free kick. The guests took advantage right away. In the 63rd minute, Bogusz scored the penalty kick to give LAFC a one-goal lead. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it was the first goal for LAFC versus Atlanta United.
“The goal was just unfortunate,” Derrick Williams, the center back, remarked. “I believe that simply occurs. When things don’t go your way, they truly don’t. Here’s how we turn this around
The direct free kick was taken by Thiago Almada, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute and immediately lit up the game. He was roughly 20 yards out from goal. In the final minutes of regulation time and the eight extra minutes of stoppage time, Atlanta United had one of their finest opportunities to tie the game when the World Cup winner’s shot was deflected and went beyond the net.
“We didn’t have today, for more than 30 minutes, Thiago available,” Pineda stated. “With Thiago we were way more dangerous.”
Atlanta United outshot LAFC 16–14 in the final minutes of play after LAFC controlled the first half’s chances and shots.
The starting lineup’s 6-foot-4 center back, Stian Gregersen, provided the defensive anchorage that prevented an ambitious LAFC onslaught from scoring throughout the first forty-five minutes of play. Early in the first half, the Norwegian tackled Bouanga hard, which set up a quick 5-Stripes counterattack. Later on in the 27th minute, Gregersen produced a forceful, sliding stop to deny Bogusz another opportunity.
Pineda described him as a “very high caliber center back.” “I thought his game was excellent. He got some cramps near the end and was exhausted, so I had to sub for him. However, I believe he did a fantastic job. We’ve been lacking him for a while, and he’s crucial to the team.”
Pineda was forced to be a little inventive with his starting lineup because a couple big players were unavailable to start. He started RÃos and Jamal Thiaré, two strikers, in the starting lineup. Both healthy players, Xande Silva and Lobjanidze, got the wings going. As a duo, Gregersen and Luis Abram constituted the central defense. Williams made his debut appearance in the game in the 72nd minute.
