Atlanta United played to a 2-2 draw with defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon August 4th 2018. (photo: Atlanta United)
Atlanta United drops two points at home with late goal from Toronto
Atlanta United and Toronto play to another 2-2 draw in front of 45,191 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Just three days after the MLS all-star game, in which home-town hero Josef Martínez nabbed MVP, he led Atlanta with a brace. The MLS Golden Boot leader now has 26 goals, just one shy of the MLS record for a single season.
Atlanta controlled the match for the first half, and did not allow a single shot attempt for the first 45 minutes of the match. Toronto was able to grab an early lead with the opening goal late in first-half stoppage time. The second half was a much more back and forth affair with Atlanta equalizing early in the half and pulling ahead about 15 minutes later. However, they could not hold the lead as they allowed a goal in stoppage time to give Toronto a point and letting 2 points slip away.
Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino lamented the lost points, “We’ve lost seven points this season in the last five minutes or so of games, Dallas, New England and today.”
He then went on to talk about the inability to close out games, “We could close a game down if we score the third goal. One way to do it is to score. What some other teams do -especially when they come here -is once they’re in a good, favorable result for them they slow the game down. They have the delays and doing all these things to -they have the experience. So they have the experience and they know how to slow a game down and do those things.”
The frustration over end of game management was clear. He finished the thought with, “I think that’s part of why we’ve lost seven points. We could have 55 points right now.”
Atlanta United played to a 2-2 draw with defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon August 4th 2018
Scoring Details
Atlanta United 0 – Toronto FC 1 Sebastian Giovinco (Auro, Jozy Altidore) 45+1’
Toronto FC midfielder Auro received an overlap pass toward the touchline from forward Jozy Altidore. He then played a cross that Sebastian Giovinco tapped past keeper Brad Guzan for his seventh goal of the season.
Atlanta United 1 – – Toronto FC 1 Josef Martínez (penalty) 53’
Josef Martínez earned a penalty kick after Toronto goal keeper Alex Bono took him down inside the six-yard box. Martínez stepped up and went left corner as Bono guessed right for his sixth penalty goal of the season.
Match 24. Goal 25.@JosefMartinez17, always one step ahead ?
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 4, 2018
Atlanta United 2 – Toronto FC 1 Josef Martínez (Tito Villalba, Michael Parkhurst) 67’
Atlanta United defender Michael Parkhurst picked up his second assist of the season when he played Tito Villalba on the right wing. Villalba looped a cross for the near post that Martínez met with a dive to redirect the ball into the back of the net.
What more can we say.
#️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
1 away from history for @JosefMartinez17 https://t.co/sZNlvTjCG2
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 4, 2018
Atlanta United 2 – Toronto FC 2 Tosaint Ricketts (Jonathan Osorio, Sebastian Giovinco) 90+1
Jonathan Osorio slipped past the back line on pass from Sebastian Giovinco to generate a cross to Tosaint Ricketts who beat Leandro González Pírez to redirect the ball into the back of the net.
Personnel Details
Kevin Kratz picked up the start today with Franco Escobar suspended from yellow card accumulation. This was his first start since the home match against New York City FC on May 15th. He played 84 minutes and was substituted in a defensive change when defender Miles Robinson came in. Kratz had an all-around solid match with one shot on goal and a 93.2% passing accuracy. His combination with newcomer Eric Remedi was seamless, as if the two had played together all season.
Atlanta United defender Michael Parkhurst spoke about his performance, “I thought Kevin had a fantastic game today. (He) and Eric (Remedi) did really well in the middle of the field. They are so good in the middle of the field and possession. They did a ton of work –a ton of running –(and) really neutralized their midfield for the most part. (He) was very clean on the ball. Just another solid performance and that’s what you expect from Kevin. He does it every time he is on the field. He comes in. He has a good performance, and that is why I think Tata has a lot of confidence in him, and that’s why I think he’s always on the field.”
Atlanta United’s Kevin Kratz thanks the fans after the 2-2 draw with defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon August 4th 2018. (photo: Atlanta United)
Line-ups
Atlanta United
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (3): Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst
- Midfielders (4): Chris McCann, Eric Remedi, Kevin Kratz (Miles Robinson – 84’), Julian Gressel
- Forwards (3): Tito Villalba (Brandon Vazquez – 90’), Miguel Almirón, Josef Martinez (Romario Williams – 79’)
Unused Substitutes
- Alec Kann, George Bello, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Andrew Carleton
Toronto FC
- GK: Alexander Bono
- Defenders (3): Chris Mavinga, Eriq Zavaleta (Ryan Telfer – 87’), Gregory van der Wiel
- Midfielders (5): Justin Morrow, Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley , Victor Vázquez (Tosaint Ricketts – 81’), Auro (Marco Delgado – 59’)
- Forward (2): Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco
Unused Substitutes
- Clint Irwin, Nick Hagglund, Liam Fraser, Jon Bakero
Up Next
Atlanta United has next week off and returns to action on Sunday, August 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when they host Columbus Crew SC .
