Atlanta United defeat depleted LA Galaxy before 72,548 fans
As LA Galaxy prepares for the final stretch of the season, they headed to Atlanta short-handed on Saturday night. Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads Los Angeles with 16 goals on the season was serving a one-game suspension for accumulated yellow cards. Diego Polenta was also not in attendance for his late red card in the 90+ minute after Los Galacticos 0-4 loss to the Portland Timbers. Los Angeles saw the return of a familiar face, Sebastian Lletget who missed action due to a hamstring injury. For their part, Atlanta looked to continue their hot home streak in front of the 72,548 fans in attendance, an MLS record for a regular-season match.
From the get-go, both Los Angeles and Atlanta United seemed eager to open up the score with Galaxy having a slight advantage. Early on in the fifth minute, Uriel Antuna gets onside, receives a through ball as he tries to put it past ATL’s keeper but is cleared out of danger. This allowed Atlanta United to counter-attack and create a dangerous play for Josef Martinez. The defense, however, was able to recover to keep the teams tied.
A few minutes later in the 19th minute, Jonathan dos Santos takes a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box but gives it right to Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan. Even though Los Angeles had better opportunities to get on the scoreboard, their recent struggles did not go away. Pity Martinez got a beautiful ball in the air in the 23rd minute coming down the right, he took on LA’s defense as he tried to put the ball into play but deflected it off Dave Romney to put up Atlanta 1-0.
The goal would give Atlanta life as it picked up its pace of play. Ezequiel Barco received a ball in the 27th minute inside the 18-yard box as he tried to one-time it but it hit the post and the LA Galaxy was saved. Los Angeles continued the pace it started with as it kept looking for the equalizer. Favio Alvarez looked to create an opportunity for himself in the 35th minute but put the ball slightly wide alerting Guzan.
Atlanta looked to give their fans their’s money’s worth. In the 36th minute, Pity Martinez got a through ball, but the referee did not call offsides. Martinez one-times the ball, but the Bingham gets a touch on it and goes wide hitting the post on its way out.
By the end of the half, Atlanta outplayed Los Angeles. Justin Meram and Pity would connect for a beautiful one-two combination in the 43rd minute. Justin Meram gets a ball from Josef, as he gives it right back in the 18-yard box Giancarlo González tries to clear it but puts it in for the second own goal of the night for los Galacticos.
Antuna had a few opportunities to create something for the Galaxy but would struggle versus Atlanta’s backline with most challenges ending on the floor. The LA Galaxy is 2-0-8 in the season when trailing. What started as a great early half for Los Angeles would lose its momentum with sloppy play.
In the second half, Atlanta came out as the more dominant team. Creating more clear opportunities than the depleted LA Galaxy. As the match went on, both teams slightly took their foot off the pedal with Atlanta having better opportunities.
Los Angeles Galaxy’s luck would continue. On a created opportunity by United in the 70th minute, Giancarlo Gonzalez clear attempt would result in a VAR review. The referee would discipline Gonzalez with a yellow and give United a chance to go up three. Atlanta’s All-Star Josef Martinez would convert the penalty with ease and secure the win for the home team.
Atlanta played with their full squad for the first time in nearly three months and still found a way to expose Galaxy’s backline through their transition game. Los Angeles will hope to get it together as it gets set to face Wayne Rooney and D.C United. For their part, United will get set to host NYC FC and continue to shake the MLS.
