Josef Martínez scores the first goal during the regular season MLS game between Atlanta United FC and the LA Galaxy on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (photo by Ryan Catanese)
Atlanta United bring the beautiful game to LA and pick-up a huge win. Playing in front a sold out StubHub Center, the visitors were able to control the play and come away with a 2-0 win and collected three points. The win extends the unbeaten streak to six matches, five of which are wins. The clean sheet poste by Brad Guzan was his third shutout of the season, and his second consecutive clean sheet away from home.
LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid on the match, “Obviously, it’s disappointing, but I think they were the better team tonight overall; especially in that period of time where they dominated the game and they created opportunities.”
The Galaxy took an approach of physical play against Atlanta United and Miguel Almirón in particular. There were two yellow cards issued 24th and 29th minute against the Galaxy as Atlanta was dominating play. Ezequiel Barco commented on how physical the game was, “I think soccer is physical everywhere but you have to get used to that.” Atlanta United head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had a different take on how physical the match was, “Physical is one thing,but what happened to Miguel [Almirón], maybe another thing. It depends on the ref, nobody else. In the first half there were three plays on Miguel, including the penalty, that were probably orange.”
Miguel Almirón during the regular season MLS game between Atlanta United FC and the LA Galaxy on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (photo by Ryan Catanese)
Scoring
They seized control of the match after a back and forth first ten minutes. The next twenty minutes saw the visitors dominate with 75% possession and pouring wave after wave of attack against the Galaxy. Miguel Almirón drew a penalty kick in the 19th minute after a take down in the box by the Galaxy defender Daniel Steres. Josef Martínez stepped up to take the PK and hit the left upright, missing an opportunity to take an early lead.
Atlanta United scored first for the sixth straight match with Martinez scoring in the 22nd minute. Leading up to the score, there was heavy pressure being applied by Atlanta who hit the bar four different times in three minutes. Within two minutes of the missed PK, Almirón hit the crossbar from 20 yards out, forcing LA goalkeeper David Bingham to make a save. After the rebound, Ezequiel Barco looped a nice cross to Julian Gressel hit also the crossbar. This time as the ball deflected out, it ricocheted off of Steres and hit the left upright where Martínez crushed into the net.
Halftime viewing ?
?⚽️ The moment @JosefMartinez17 took the lead pic.twitter.com/n9TkzgvVbp
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) April 22, 2018
Almirón would add another goal at the close of play with a stoppage time penalty. Atlanta substitute Romario Williams was taken down inside the box in the 93rd minute. Almirón stepped up and buried the shot in the corner to beat Bingham.
The icing on the ?
Miggy is clinical from the spot to make it 2-0 just before the whistle pic.twitter.com/WnzwEvdwTf
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) April 22, 2018
Personnel Details
Ezequiel Barco made his first start with great effect. The Argentine was quick and creative yet is still looking to improve his in match timing and fitness. He was able to find passes in tight spaces including the cross to Gressel that lead to the first goal.
Coach Martino provided a positive review of Barco’s first start, “He played very well to be honest, I thought he played very well. He was very precise, very good with his movements. I thought he was combining well with Miguel [Almirón] and Josef [Martinez] and we just had to take him off because I thought he was looking tired.”
Josef Martinez spoke after the match about the interplay with Miguel Almirón and Ezequiel Barco and himself, “You guys already know how I combine with Miguel but I thought Ezequiel looked good. It’s his first start for the team so he just needs to get a little bit more rhythm but I think for being his first start we are combining well and we just need to keep improving as a team, keep working on the things we want to do and continue on this right path we are on.”
Ezequiel Barco makes his first start for Atlanta United in this regular season MLS game between Atlanta United FC and the LA Galaxy on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (photo by Ryan Catanese)
Line-ups
Atlanta United
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (3): Chris McCann, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
- Midfielders (5): Greg Garza, Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe, Ezequiel Barco (Romario Williams – 83’), Julian Gressel (Sal Zizzo – 90’)
- Forwards (2): Josef Martinez (Kevin Kratz – 80’), Miguel Almirón
Unused Substitutes
- Alec Kann, Franco Escobar, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Brandon Vazquez.
LA Galaxy
- GK: David Bingham
- Defenders (4): Ashley Cole, Jorgen Skjelvik, Daniel Steres (Chris Pontius – 82’), Rolf Fletscher
- Midfielders (4): Sebastian Lletget (Giovani dos Santos – 66’), Baggio Husidic (Servando Carrasco – 60’), Perry Kitchen, Romain Alessandrini;
- Forwards (2): Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ola Kamara
Unused Substitutes
- Michael Ciani, Dave Romney, Justin vom Steeg
Up Next
Atlanta United returns to action at home in Mercedes Bez Stadium against the Montreal Impact. The match is Saturday, April 27 kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
