MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Falls to Chicago Fire 1-0

Published on June 20, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


ATLANTA - Atlanta United lost to Chicago Fire Wednesday night 1-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Round of 16 of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With 41,012 fans, Atlanta broke another all-time attendance record, shattering a seven-year-old record previously held by Seattle Sounders FC. Nemanja Nikolic scored the lone goal of the match, carrying Chicago to the quarterfinals and eliminating Atlanta from the tournament.

"I thought we started off well and then about the middle of the first half Chicago seemed to take a little more control of the game," Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino said. "In the second half, they created some chances, the goal being one of them, but we responded with a few chances of our own. I thought we had enough that we could've tied the game or even gone ahead at that point, but just weren't able to."

Chicago broke the scoreless tie in the 54th minute as Nikolic tapped in a cross from Luis Solignac. Bastian Schweinsteiger was also credited with an assist, who played Solignac behind the Atlanta backline before the winger played the ball across the face of goal.

For Atlanta, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu made his first career start in a competitive game. A third round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, the midfielder made one career appearance in MLS action, but made his third career appearance in the U.S. Open Cup.

Atlanta United (10-3-3, 33 points) returns to MLS action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Portland Timbers on Sunday, June 24 (4:30 p.m., FOX).

LINE SCORE

Chicago Fire 1, Atlanta United 0

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta, Georgia

STATS

Shots: 14-11 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 4-3 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 12-3 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 9-6 Chicago

Saves: 4-2 Chicago

Clearances: 28-7 Chicago

Offside: 4-2 Chicago

Possession: 57-43 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 86-84 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

CHI - Nemanja Nikolic (Luis Solignac, Bastian Schweinsteiger) 54' [HIGHLIGHT]

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CHI - Aleksander Katai (yellow) 39'

ATL - Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (yellow) 81'

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Alec Kann; Mikey Ambrose, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez ©, Miles Robinson, Sal Zizzo (Andrew Carleton - 87'); Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Kevin Kratz (Julian Gressel - 62'); Brandon Vazquez (Ezequiel Barco - 62'), Miguel AlmirÃ"n, Tito Villalba; Romario Williams.

Substitutes not used: Mitch Hildebrandt, Franco Escobar, Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowicz.

CHICAGO FIRE STARTING LINEUP

Richard Sanchez; Jorge Corrales, Jonathan Campbell, Johan Kappelhof, Diego Campos (Kevin Ellis - 64'); Brandt Bronico, Dax McCarty ©; Luis Solignac, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Aleksander Katai (Alan Gordon - 90+4'); Nemanja Nikolic (Tony Tchani - 78').

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Brandon Vincent, Grant Lillard, Daniel Johnson.

ATTENDANCE

41,012

OFFICIALS

Rubiel Vazquez (referee), Nick Uranga (assistant), Danny Thornberry (assistant), Sergii Demianchuk (fourth).

TEAM NOTES

Alec Kann made his debut at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, a 2017 MLS SuperDraft pick, made his first competitive start with the club.

The previous U.S. Open Cup attendance record was 35,012, occurring on Oct. 4, 2011 in Final between Seattle Sounders FC and Chicago Fire.

Only four other matches in the history of the Open Cup had attendances higher than 30,000.

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 20, 2018


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