Atlanta United’s suffering and seemingly unlucky season continues as an FC Dallas goal in the sixth minute of their matchup Saturday evening hovered over the players’ heads and Atlanta was unable to finish all but one of their 22 shots for the remainder of the 2-1 game.
On fresh astroturf in Mercedes-Benz stadium, hometown defenders Atlanta United faced visiting FC Dallas for a competitive and physical match. Both teams arrived to Atlanta with recent victories under their belts. Atlanta United defeated the New England Revolution for their first league win led by substitute Ezequiel Barco’s two defining goals and FC Dallas clenched a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers in their last game after their young team proved they have the intensity and energy to be a force to be reckoned with in the league.
Atlanta’s hopes for last week’s momentum propelling them to their first home win were dashed early as FC Dallas’ striker Michael Barrios connected with Jesús Ferreira on a breakaway to give Ferreira the tone-setting goal just six minutes into the game. FC Dallas was able to capitalize on their momentum for the first several minutes of the game as they kept possession and prevented Atlanta United’s players from making headway into their attacking half and create scoring chances.
FC Dallas’ time spent with the ball was short-lived, however, as Atlanta elevated their pressure and speed of play to keep the overwhelming majority of possession in the first half, going into halftime with 70% of possession and 86% passing accuracy. Their opportunities in front of the goal followed this trend as they had ten shots, three of which were on frame, but twice as many as Dallas generated.
This inability to put shots away was detrimental to Atlanta’s performance and result, a trend not unnoticed by head coach Frank de Boer.
“Sometimes soccer is unfair and today maybe it was for us, but that’s why the game’s so beautiful,” said de Boer. “And not always the best team wins. When we play like this and with this intensity the goals will come.”
The excitement of second half took a back seat until the final minutes of the game as possession steadily remained in Atlanta United’s favor but opportunities towards the goal were unsuccessful. With six total yellow cards in the half, five of which were called on FC Dallas, the level of play turned physical quickly as most cards given out were for aggressive and dangerous fouls. This consistent breaking up of play gave more scoring opportunities and chances in the box for Atlanta United as they shot twelve more times, five of which were on target to keep Dallas’ young goalkeeper Jesse González on his toes. Atlanta’s apparent dominating possession wasn’t enough, however, to stop the breakaway of Barrios and Bryan Acosta to put Acosta right in front of goalkeeper Brad Guzan for a successful shot in the 83rd minute for a goal similar to Ferreira’s.
Atlanta got their one last chance to prevent a shutout in stoppage time FC Dallas committed a foul in the 18-yard box, awarding Atlanta a penalty kick. Josef Martínez was able to put the shot away easily to make the score 2-1 with a minute to go.
With multiple unsuccessful opportunities on goal for Atlanta United and a tone-setting early goal for FC Dallas, both teams go forward into their matches next week with hopes of a win.
Sydney Kohne 
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