MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Falls 2-1 to Minnesota United FC

Published on May 4, 2024 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


ATLANTA - Atlanta United fell 2-1 against Minnesota United FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Saba Lobjanidze scored his second goal of the season to help ignite a comeback after the team conceded a pair of goals after halftime, but Atlanta's rally ultimately fell short.

Each side took time to feel its way into the match, with neither team putting a shot on target until after the half hour mark. Atlanta had a threatening counterattack in the 32nd minute which ended with Lobjanidze attempting to round goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, but he was called offside. Just three minutes later, Minnesota had a prime scoring opportunity denied by Brad Guzan. Atlanta's captain collided with teammate Luis Abram as both players went to make a play on a bouncing ball in Atlanta's penalty area. Tani Oluwaseyi followed the play and struck the ball towards goal, but Guzan made a quick reaction save from the ground to keep the match scoreless.

Moments later in the 38th minute, Giorgos Giakoumakis nearly gave Atlanta the lead. Abram played a long diagonal ball to the right wing for Edwin Mosquera. The Colombian one-timed a pass backwards to Almada, who immediately whipped in a cross for Giakoumakis at the back post. The Greek striker headed the ball down which bounced high in front of St. Clair, but Minnesota's net minder was able to tip it over the bar.

Minnesota took the lead in the 54th minute from a corner kick. Joseph Rosales delivered an out-swinging cross to the back post where Kervin Arriaga leapt high to meet the ball and tuck his header inside the right post. Oluwaseyi doubled the visitor's lead in the 60th minute with a low shot from distance that snuck in the right side of goal.

Atlanta continued to search for its first goal and eventually halved the deficit in the 82nd minute. The play started with a Minnesota United goal kick which was headed by Bartosz Slisz upfield to Giakoumakis, who nodded the ball further down the pitch into the path of Daniel Ríos sprinting toward goal down the left side. Ríos dribbled into the box before sending a pass with the outside of his right boot to the far side where Lobjanidze one-timed a shot into the bottom left corner.

The pressure continued to build on Minnesota's goal as Atlanta United pushed for the equalizer late. Following an Atlanta corner kick in the 91st minute, the ball bounced around the penalty area until it fell for Slisz at the edge of the box. He sent in a cross for Giakoumakis who found a pocket of space between the backline and St. Clair, but his header rattled off the cross bar.

In the final minute of the match, Ríos won a free kick for Atlanta just outside of Minnesota's penalty area on the left side. Almada stepped to the ball and took aim at goal, but his attempt was saved by St. Clair for the final kick of the game.

Atlanta United (3-4-3, 12 points) returns to action Tuesday, May 7 for a U.S. Open Cup match against Charlotte Independence at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia (7:30 p.m. ET, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). The club returns to MLS Regular Season play Saturday, May 11 when it hosts D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.

Match Summary

Stats

Shots: 20-12 Atlanta

Shots on target: 5-4 Minnesota

Corner kicks: 13-9 Atlanta

Fouls Committed: 11-8 Minnesota

xG: 2.8 - 0.9 Atlanta

Possession: 64-36 Atlanta

Passing accuracy: 83-65 Atlanta

Scoring

MIN - Kervin Arriaga (Joseph Rosales) 54'

MIN - Tani Oluwaseyi (Carlos Harvey) 60'

ATL - Saba Lobjanidze (Daniel Ríos) 82'

Disciplinary

ATL - Luis Abram Y 20'

MIN - Kervin Arriaga Y 90+7'

Notes

Saba Lobjanidze scored his second goal of the season

Daniel Ríos recorded his first assist with Atlanta United

Giorgos Giakoumakis recorded his second assist of the year

Stian Gregersen made his first appearance since March 17

Attendance: 43,338

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

GK: Brad Guzan (c)

D: Brooks Lennon

D: Noah Cobb (Stian Gregersen - 77')

D: Luis Abram

D: Caleb Wiley

M: Bartosz Slisz

M: Tristan Muyumba (Daniel Ríos - 66')

M: Thiago Almada

M: Saba Lobjanidze

M: Edwin Mosquera (Tyler Wolff - 66'; Nick Firmino 90+8')

F: Giorgos Giakoumakis

Substitutes not used:

Quentin Westberg

Ronald Hernandez

Efrain Morales

Dax McCarty

Jay Fortune

MINNESOTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

GK: Dayne St. Clair

D: Devin Padelford

D: Miguel Tapias

D: Michael Boxall (c)

M: Joseph Rosales (Caden Clark - 79')

M: Tani Oluwaseyi (Teemu Pukki - 63')

M: Robin Lod (Carlos Harvey - HT)

M: Wil Trapp

M: DJ Taylor

M: Kervin Arriaga

F: San Bin Jeong (Bongokuhle Hlongwane - 63')

Substitutes not used:

Zarek Valentin

Franco Fragapane

Alejandro Bran

Alec Smir

OFFICIALS

Guido Gonzales Jr. (referee), Cameron Blanchard (assistant), Brian Dunn (assistant), Rubiel Vazquez (fourth), Kevin Terry Jr. (VAR), Mike Kampmeinert (AVAR)

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

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