D.C. United continues its road campaign in Atlanta, facing off against another United – the 5-Stripes. This will be the first meeting between D.C. and Atlanta this season, with the clubs sitting in 7th and 5th place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, respectively.
Atlanta United has drawn its last four matches but blew Colorado out of the water in mid-May with a 4-0 win at home. Now, Atlanta is coming off a midweek matchup with LAFC that ended in a scoreless draw. Will the Black-and-Red be able to capitalize on the opposition’s tired legs? We will see tonight.
Meanwhile, D.C. United will look to continue its winning ways on the road after besting Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale. Wayne Rooney will be looking for patience and consistency from his team as they go for another three points in Atlanta.
Donovan Pines, who has scored two goals in the last two matches, is confident D.C. United can get the job done against Atlanta. He said, “I think we just got to play, you know, our style. You know, not really change for Atlanta, but just keep playing ourselves, keep playing good defensively, stay tactically sound and defensively sound. I know we can do well against them.”
Catch Claudia Pagán with the First Team Report here:
Key Player: Christian Benteke
We have to say, the Black-and-Red are really becoming a class act. A goal or heroic feat can come from anywhere, and we are here for it. Christian Benteke still has our top vote as the danger man for D.C. United, though. His keen instincts continue to consistently deliver goal-scoring opportunities.
Watch Out For: Thiago Almada
Almada is another absolute danger on the pitch. He currently leads MLS with successful passes in the final third (326) and is second in goals and assists (15), bested only by Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar.
Challenges: D.C. United still has a pretty lengthy injury list. With Andy Najar and Ted Ku-DiPietro listed as questionable, the Black-and-Red will lack some depth, which is becoming more critical as the season wears on.
Previously: Atlanta got the better of D.C. United in both 2022 meetings, besting the Black-and-Red 0-1 at Audi Field and 3-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United Availability:
Out: Ozzie Alonso (ACL recovery), Santiago Sosa (ankle)
Questionable: Erik Lopez (ankle)
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Martin Rodriguez (knee), Nigel Robertha (ankle), Mohanad Jeahze (thigh), Ruan (thigh)
Questionable: Andy Najar (thigh), Ted Ku-DiPietro (ankle)
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Filip Dujic
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Thanks for the scouting reports and pre-game info Sarah!
Even though DC played the Necaxa friendly in forest fire smog conditions on Wednesday, the fatigue factor could benefit DC today.
Atlanta earns the frequent flyer bonus for their trip to LA. That bonus consists of less recovery time to replenish their energy levels and muscle elasticity from a game significantly more intense than DC’s friendly.
The MLS highlight package shows Atlanta earning a scoreless victory (0-0) in spite of being heavily outshot. Guzan was good and by far the main reason for the result. Hopefully Fake United will enjoy their frequent flyer bonus and DC can be more the energetic team in the late stages of the game.
That was unusually ridiculous of Miller, and we all have to suffer. Totally misjudged the flight of that ball, no reason to come out at all.
It’s one thing to come for balls that are coming central, but to run after a diagonal ball AWAY from goal?!? What in blue blazes was he thinking
Miller, you’re drunk, you need a Taxi!
1-1
Interesting match so far.
well shit
Miller jumps out of the way of an easy goal. Shocker.
Miller needs to stop biting on potential crosses and stay in his net. No excuse to have the near post THAT open. 2 goals to Miller tonight if you ask me.
Not Miller’s best night so far, but he’s played well enough so far this season that he’s earned a subpar game. I’m more worried about Birnbaum’s play on the the first goal. He mistimed the step for the offisde trap and then didn’t get back in time to cover the net. He’s played fine this season, but Williams has earned the starting spot imo.
Palsson and Durkin have both been playing well though so there’s that at least.
Well, we can definitely say this has been an exciting match. I would love to see us tighten up and be a bit more clinical.
Damn OGDC gave up a try in the first 20 seconds…
on the bright side Houston didn’t convert it. But Houston is dominating OGDC early. Testing the new back 3 grouping for OGDC.
well shit its now 10-0 in the 9’…
try converted 12-0
Finally firs time in Houston’s half, and Houston commits a penalty in the line out. OGDC rolling maul and gets a penalty try for Houston illegally pulling the maul down. Its now 12-7 in the 12′.
Dang it Houston’s pressure on OGDC results in another try despite some great try line defense, and a missed tackle allows the try in the 18′. Try not converted. Score now 17-7.
Since that try its been back and forth.
Great defense preventing a try getting back and knocking it out of the back of the try zone before Houston could touch it down in the 34′.
Potential OGDC try going to TMO review, and if its not on review then coming back to offside penalty against Houston.
No try on review coming back to penalty for offside Its the 38′ no clear grounding on TMO review. OGDC kicks for touch for line out and rolling maul fails immediately. OGDC driving.
Knock on turn over by OGDC and Houston takes the scrum in extra time of first half. They kick it into touch bringing the first half to an end.
Honestly being in the 49′ and the fact that we didn’t start a bunch of the regulars and only being down 17-7 is good.
OGDC is saved in the 50′ with a try denied by a forward pass penalty against Houston.
I think that’s Atlanta’s 3rd. That’s razor close offside
Center ref shouldn’t need to review an offside call, VAR knows.
Should just be 3-1, was a generously bad call.
Yeah. I am really puzzled why that isn’t more automatic. Should easily have the tech. needed to facilitate a call w/o the center ref. Adds controversy too.
It’d be hilarious if MLS adopts the automatic offside that was used at the World Cup when the EPL just decided against using it.
Not sure why it wasn’t a goal and now I’m just as confused as to why the ref went to VAR. If it’s offsides since when does the center ref go to the monitor for offsides?? Not to mention this commentary crew has no clue what’s happening.
Look a lot worse defensively since going to a back four. Wonder if we will see Rooney go to this again given poor showing tonight. To be fair, at the moment the sub was made I thought it seemed like a good call.
I’d argue that’s more than a yellow. No intent on the ball and could’ve easily injured Birnbaum. Filthy play.
Such an Atlanta United way to embrace your approaching substitution.
Darth Garber won’t allow it. Atlanta is still a league darling.
They’ve got the better of this DC side tonight (thus far and probably when all is settled too), but not by much. One of O’Brien’s chances finds the back of the net and this is a very different game. Talent as always is there for ATL, but they seem to consistently fail to play to the level they should be capable of.
Wait isn’t that yellow card for Kilch now result in an accumulation suspension?
I don’t know if that’s official, but he has collected unnecessary yellows at a considerable clip.
Its not based on disciplinary report at of 6/6/2023: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-disciplinary-summary
Apparently Kilch had played enough games without a yellow to get him off accumulation.
Hm.
I wonder if Klich has the link to that data saved as a favorite on one of his devices
Not much left here in this game. I’ve already voiced my opinion on professional soccer teams playing on turf multiple times. It’s obviously not the reason DC lost, but it plays a part. Interested to see how things go in the return leg. Not an awful performance but not a great one either.
Woof.
Miller cheats on a cross instead of covering the near post: commentators roast him for five minutes.
Guzan does it: commentators praise him.
Now, obviously Guzan got a stronger hand to the cross than Miller, but Gutman was crossing the ball there and Miller just got a bit unlucky with it coming a yard closer to goal than he was anticipating.
Overall, can’t be too disappointed considering we’re still down our top three wingbacks and the game was on turf. Durkin is going to make it hard for Canouse to replace him but I’m not sure how hard Taxi is making it for KDP to steal his spot.
Taxi is still the best finisher on the team. Not sure KDP could’ve scored the goal Taxi did today. Still love KDP and he’s a great understudy.