Atlanta United defeated Chicago Fire FC 3-1 on Saturday night in its 2021 home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ezequiel Barco’s wondergoal gave Atlanta an early lead and Emerson Hyndman’s late goal sealed the win as Atlanta picked up its first win in league play.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the 23rd minute on a long-range strike from Barco. After drawing a foul, Barco hit the ensuing free kick into the Chicago wall, however the rebound fell to him outside the box and the Argentine midfielder blasted a right-footed shot that curled off the crossbar and into the top left corner of the goal.
Atlanta had a chance to score later in the half when Marcelino Moreno’s shot was deflected off the post, falling to Hyndman who hit the ball into the side net. Seconds later, Brad Guzan made a pair of big saves in the 38th minute, stopping the initial shot from Chinoso Offor and a second attempt off the rebound from close range.
However, Chicago was able to equalize less than a minute into the second half as Luka Stojanovic finished off a cross that eluded a few Atlanta defenders. Boris Sekulic found space along the right wing and one-touched a pass back across goal that just snuck by Atlanta’s center backs and found Stojanovic near the back post.
But Atlanta piled on the pressure as the second half carried on and finally pulled ahead in the 66th minute on an own goal from Johan Kappelhof. Moreno originally crossed into the box, forcing Chicago’s goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth to rush out, but he could only parry away, which immediately hit Kappelhof and redirected into the back of the net.
Hyndman doubled the lead and sealed the game in the 85th minute. Jürgen Damm did well to get around a defender and get to the end line before feeding Jake Mulraney near the edge of the six-yard box. Mulraney then danced around two defenders and nearly finished off a wondergoal of his own; however, Shuttleworth saved it. The rebound fell to Hyndman who hammered the ball into the back of the net.
Atlanta (1-0-1, 4 points) will take on Philadelphia Union in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals First Leg at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Tuesday, April 27 (8 p.m. ET, FS1/TUDN). It’s next MLS match is against New England Revolution Saturday, May 1 (8:00 p.m. ET, CW69, atlutd.com/live, Star 94.1).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta United 3, Chicago Fire FC 1
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
STATS
Shots: 18-12 Atlanta
Shots on Target: 6-6
Corner kicks: 6-4 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 25-10 Chicago
Offside: 1-1
Possession: 61-39 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 84-78 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Ezequiel Barco 23’ [HIGHLIGHT]
CHI – Luka Stojanovic (Boris Sekulic) 46’ [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Johan Kappelhof (own goal) 66’ [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Emerson Hyndman 85’ [HIGHLIGHT]
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Jake Mulraney (yellow) 27’
ATL – Ezequiel Barco (yellow) 70’
ATL – Emerson Hyndman (yellow) 81’
CHI – Gaston Gimenez (yellow) 90’
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan ©; George Bello, Anton Walkes, Miles Robinson, Brooks Lennon (Jack Gurr – HT); Santiago Sosa, Emerson Hyndman, Ezequiel Barco (Erik Lopez – 88’); Marcelino Moreno (Jürgen Damm 67’), Lisandro López (Josef Martinez – 67’), Jake Mulraney (Franco Ibarra – 86’)
Substitutes not used: Ben Lundgaard, Mikey Ambrose, Alan Franco, Cubo Torres
CHICAGO FIRE FC STARTING LINEUP
Bobby Shuttleworth; Boris Sekulic, Jonathan Bornstein, Johan Kappelhof, Francisco Calvo ©; Luka Stojanovic, Alvaro Medran, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Gaston Gimenez; Chinonso Offor (Jhon Espinoza – 86’), Robert Beric
Substitutes not used: Gabriel Slonina, Wyatt Omsberg, Mauricio Pineda, Carlos Teran, Andre Reynolds II, Javier Casas, Alex Monis, Brian Gutierrez
OFFICIALS
Allen Chapman (referee), Eric Weisbrod (assistant), Jeremy Kieso, (assistant), Sergii Demianchuck (fourth), Alejandro Mariscal (VAR), Ian McKay (AVAR).
ATTENDANCE
20,335
TEAM NOTES
- With three Atlanta United goals, it’s $3 off a burrito at participating Moe’s restaurants tomorrow. Download their app more information.
- Atlanta won its home opener for the second year in a row, improving to 3-1-1 all-time in home openers.
- Emerson Hyndman scored his fourth goal in league play for Atlanta United. The team improved to 4-0-0 when he scores a goal.
- Ezequiel Barco scored his 11th career MLS goal.
- Brad Guzan made five saves. It was the most he’s made in a league game since Oct. 18, 2020 against Toronto FC.
- Brooks Lennon was subbed off at halftime. It was the first use of the league’s new concussion substitute rule.
- Emerson Hyndman had a game-high 34 passes in the opponents’ half, completing 85 percent of them.
- Jack Gurr and Erik Lopez each made their MLS debuts.
- Miles Robinson led the team with four clearances
ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED
Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,548), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.
