Atlanta United needed to get three points out of a crucial conference matchup at home Wednesday night to help the club keep its hopes of qualifying for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The team fell short of that target, giving up a brace to Josef Martínez at his old stomping grounds, and lost to CF Montréal 2-1.
The loss does not eliminate Atlanta from a potential postseason berth, but it does become that much more difficult with only two matches remaining on the regular season slate. With three valuable points gained, Montréal jumps from above the playoff line in the current Eastern Conference standings.
"I think tonight kind of sums up the whole season, really," said center back Derrick Williams. "Missing a lot of chances, missing goals. Like I said before, goals change games. It just hurts."
How did the goal arrive for Atlanta United and Daniel Ríos?
Pedro Amador is finding a groove with slinging the ball from the left flank into the box for a header. In a play that looked similar to Saba Lobjanidze's goal against Inter Miami CF, Amador received the ball on the left side after a string of tight passes from Atlanta United. The fullback crossed into the box. This time, it was Daniel Ríos who finished it off with a header in first half stoppage time, leveling the match 1-1 right before halftime.
The assist is the third of the season for Amador. Williams, who was credited with a secondary assist on the play, recorded his first assist with Atlanta United. It's the seventh goal of the season for Ríos, which brings one below Saba who leads the team.
"We'll keep fighting for the fans that are coming," Ríos said after that match. "We tried to show it today. The score is not our quality. Our effort has not been enough. We haven't delivered, that's why we are in the position that we are in with everything that happened in the year, not just the last five games."
How big of a factor was Josef Martínez for CF Montréal?
Josef Martínez made the starting XI for Montréal head coach Laurent Courtois, and the striker did what he’s done so many times before at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: score the opening goal. However, this was his first time doing so for a club other than Atlanta United.
On the play, Martínez received a direct free kick and brought it down with his chest. He passed it off, then immediately got it back in a tight spot inside the box. The striker worked quickly, turning and delivered a right-footed shot past his former teammate goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 43rd minute.
Martínez would go on to record his brace in the 76th minute. In true Martínez fashion, the striker slid near post to tap in a wicked fast cross from Tom Pearce, who had just entered the match as a substitute. The striker's goal ended up being the game-winner and put Montréal ahead 2-1.
After he scored, Martínez didn't celebrate, showing respect for the club he played for and the supporters who cheered him on for six seasons. Martínez won the 2018 Golden Boot with Atlanta United and played a significant role in Atlanta United's run to win the 2018 MLS Cup. He's the all-time leading goal scorer in Atlanta history.
A slow start to the first half picks up pace
The match started slow, and each side took just one shot in the opening 15 minutes of play. Atlanta United had a good chance following a takeaway that led to a fast break. Ríos carried the ball up the pitch, with Lobjanidze running with him. Ríos opted to take his defender 1v1 and cranked a firmly struck ball that went into the hands of Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The pace picked up after an initial handball call on Atlanta United in the 21st minute was called back. (The replay showed clearly the ball bouncing off the back of the head of center back Derrick Williams.)
A few minutes after the non-handball, Atlanta United created a beautiful chance. The play started with an interception from Brooks Lennon that disrupted a Montréal attack. The ball quickly turned over, and Atlanta United was on the attack. Alexey Miranchuk played a great through ball to Saba, who got in behind the line, and controlled the ball at his feet. It appeared that Saba might score his ninth goal of the season, but his low-driven shot across the box rolled just wide.
Atlanta United finished the first half with eight shots, five on goal, and three corners.
"We shouldn't have been down tonight, but it was also nothing in the game. In the first half, it was dead," said interim head coach Rob Valentino.
Later in the half, Miranchuk and Saba connected again with a similar pass. However, Saba's shot was blocked. Again, another good opportunity arrived for Saba to score in the 59th minute of the match. The winger got into the box to receive a driven cross from Ríos. Saba made good contact and put the ball on frame, however it clanged off the post.
"There was not much between the two teams, and we didn't bring any life to it," Valentino said. "That's not good enough."
Atlanta United | CF Montréal | |
|---|---|---|
Shots | 16 | 8 |
Shots on target | 7 | 3 |
Corner kicks | 7 | 1 |
Fouls committed | 10 | 13 |
xG | 1.7 | 1.5 |
Possession | 50.5% | 49.5% |
Passing accuracy | 87.3% | 88% |
What's next for Atlanta United?
Some other results fell Atlanta United's way Wednesday night. Philadelphia Union lost to Orlando City SC and Toronto fell to New York Red Bulls. Both Philadelphia and Toronto still sit with 37 points in the conference table, three within Atlanta United at 34. D.C. United beat Nashville SC, which brings them also to 37 points, above Atlanta United.
The circumstances make Saturday's home match against New York Red Bulls an absolute must-win for Atlanta United to even have a chance to contend for playoff qualification. The match on Saturday, Oct. 5 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
