After a four-match losing skid, Atlanta United responded with a dominant 4-0 win over the Colorado Rapids.
Atlanta United Starting XI
Quentin Westberg, Brooks Lennon, Miles Robinson (C), Juanjo Purata, Ronald Hernández, Santiago Sosa, Matheus Rossetto, Thiago Almada, Luiz Araújo, Derrick Etienne Jr., Miguel Berry
Colorado Rapids Starting XI
William Yarbrough (C), Danny Wilson, Andreas Maxso, Lalas Abubakar, Alex Gersbach, Danny Leyva, Connor Ronan, Ralph Priso, Michael Barrios, Sam Nicholson, Kevin Cabral
Lineup Notes
Ronald Hernandez filled the left back position in Andrew Gutman’s absence. Santiago Sosa and Matheus Rossetto reentered the lineup pairing with Thiago Almada in midfield. Derrick Etienne filled in for Wiley on the left flank. Berry started as Giorgos Giakoumakis beginning on the bench.
First Half
Fast starts have been characteristic of Atlanta United all season. Less than a minute into the game they were given an opportunity to score their fastest goal of the season.
A ball over the top was misplayed by Lalas Abubakar as he fell attempting to clear the ball. Derrick Etienne picked up the loose ball and played it across the box. Thiago Almada met the pass but his first time shot was off target and cleared.
The Colorado Rapids responded with a chance of their own as Danny Leyva played through Michael Barrios. Barrios did well to escape beyond the Atlanta backline but was tracked down by Miles Robinson who cut out the threat.
The Atlanta offense has struggled in recent matches, but have taken advantage of set piece chances. In the 8th minute, they were gifted a golden opportunity with a penalty kick following a handball in the box.
Almada stepped up for the penalty kick in Nashville and it was Almada who made his way to the spot in this match. After his signature run-up, Almada skyed his attempt, missing everything but the stanchion behind the goal.
Gonzalo Pindea was vocal last week about his team and their intensity and urgency especially following missed opportunities. Despite the missed chance, Atlanta remained on the front foot. Brooks Lennon and Luiz Araújo fired off attempts but they were unable to threaten William Yarbrough in goal.
Despite their best efforts, neither team was able to create any threatening offense. Atlanta’s first shot on target came 25 minutes into the match from a Miles Robinson header from a corner. Araújo followed that with a left footed shot that was saved comfortably by Yarbrough.
Atlanta’s next shot was unsavable. In a true deja vu moment, Almada stood over a free kick 25 yards away from goal. Yarbrough was rooted in place as Almada curled a shot over the five man wall and into the top corner of the net (1-0 Almada 29′).
The intensity for Atlanta didn’t drop after the goal. They remained high in the press causing turnovers in the attacking half. Araújo fired off two attempts and Santiago Sosa added another header from a corner.
In the midst of this period, Colorado also managed their first shot but Leyva’s attempt was comfortably caught by Quentin Westberg.
After that attempt, the momentum remained completely in Atlanta’s favor. Despite their numerous efforts, they were unable to add a second goal but entered halftime with the lead and in complete control of the match.
Second Half
For a second consecutive match, the opposing team was late to return to the pitch from the halftime break.
Despite the delay, Atlanta United began the second half as they did the first. Almada through the Colorado midfield before playing a pass to Lennon on his right. Lennon attempted to find Almada in the box but his pass was off target and cut out.
Colorado responded with a long range strike from Connor Ronan but it was blocked. The resulting corner was dealt with as well.
A good period of play teed up Ronan for another effort from outside the box but his curled shot remained wide of Westberg’s goal.
In the 53rd minute, Giorgos Giakoumakis subbed into the game in place of Miguel Berry. His entrance into the match turned up the pressure from Atlanta.
A couple shots and a couple headers from corners were produced by Atlanta but neither pair of efforts found their way on target.
After absorbing the pressure well, Colorado found themselves with a chance of their own. A good string of passes ended with Ralph Priso being found in space on the edge of the box but his first time shot sailed high of the goal.
Looking to continue pressing forward and equalize, Colorado made a double change seeing Moise Bombito and Jonathan Lewis enter in place of Lalas Abubakar and Kevin Cabral.
Colorado did just that, following the substitution with another long range effort, capitalizing on a Ronald Hernandez turnover. Leyva curled an effort to the top right of goal but Westberg made the save at full stretch.
Another Hernandez misplay led to another chance as Lewis found himself in the box. His shot went to the near post and didn’t fool Westberg who made a comfortable save.
Franco Ibarra entered the place in favor of Santiago Sosa in the 73rd minute. Calvin Harris entered for Colorado in the 79th minute.
Nearly an hour into searching for a second goal, Atlanta found it following a moment of brilliance from Araújo. Araújo picked up the ball deep in midfield and made a dashing run into the box before calmly passing a shot into the bottom right corner, rooting Yarbrough again (2-0 Araújo 80′).
With the match seemingly wrapped up, Atlanta made a triple substitution bringing in Tyler Wolff, Machop Chol, and Luis Abram on for Araújo, Etienne, and
The fat lady was yet to sing so Atlanta continued as they had most of the game: dominating.
Wolff was on the receiving end of a rebounded save of an Almada shot. As he fell to the ground, he tapped in the rebound, extending their lead (3-0 Wolff 87′).
With their 30th shot of the game, Atlanta added a fourth goal. Lennon played a ball over the Colorado backline that connected with Giakoumakis who calmly chipped the ball over the keeper. He followed his chip and thundered it home for good measure (4-0 Giakoumakis 90′).
The final whistle finally came for the Colorado Rapids. Atlanta United snapped their losing streak in dominant fashion.
Their next matches comes quickly again as they will travel to the Windy City to face Chicago Fire for a second time this season. The first meeting of the teams ended in a 2-1 victory for Atlanta by way of a last second Chicago own goal.
Matchday 13: Atlanta United 4 (Almada 29′, Araújo 80′, Wolff 87′, Giakoumakis 90 ‘) – Colorado Rapids 0
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