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MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Falls to Cruz Azul 5-4 in Penalty Shootout

July 29, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


Atlanta United's Tristan Muyumba and Cruz Azul's Moisés Vieira on the field
Atlanta United's Tristan Muyumba and Cruz Azul's Moisés Vieira on the field
(Atlanta United FC)

ATLANTA - Atlanta United fell to Cruz Azul 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation. With the result, Cruz Azul secured the final spot in the group to advance to the Knockout stage. Atlanta's next match will be in MLS play on Aug. 20 at Seattle.

After a chippy opening 15 minutes that included a yellow card issued to each team, Cruz Azul opened the scoring in the 19th minute. From a long throw, Carlos Rotondi won a header that landed at the feet of Moises. The Brazilian playmaker, in alone on Brad Guzan, blistered a shot past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.

Atlanta turned up the pressure after the break, attempting four shots in the first six minutes of the second half. Giorgos Giakoumakis forced a save from Sebastián Jurado in the 49th minute and had another attempt blocked just two minutes later off an Atlanta counterattack.

Continuing the pressure in the second half, the number seven turned out to be the lucky one for Atlanta United, as Almada equalized on the seventh attempted shot of the second half in the 75th minute. Second half substitute Edwin Mosquera won a 50-50 ball on the edge of the box, but was dispossessed by a tackle that freed the ball back toward the center of the box. There, Almada deftly snuck his attempt to the near post to beat a diving Jurado.

At the end of regulation, the teams were locked at 1-1 meaning a penalty shootout would decide tonight's winner. Atlanta took the early lead as Brooks Lennon converted the first penalty, while Cruz Azul's Carlos Salcedo hit the crossbar. In the third round, Jurado stopped Miguel Berry's attempt to get Cruz Azul back on level terms. After both teams converted the next two attempts, Juanjo Purata missed wide left to open the door for the Liga MX side. Augusto Lotti stepped up and converted to win the shootout 5-4 and send Cruz Azul to the Knockout stage.

Atlanta United (9-7-8, 35 points) returns to action in MLS Regular Season play Sunday, Aug. 20 vs. Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.

Match Summary

Stats

Shots: 9-3 Atlanta

Shots on target: 2-1 Cruz Azul

Corner kicks: 4-3 Cruz Azul

Fouls Committed: 14-9 Atlanta

Possession: 60-40 Atlanta

Passing accuracy: 89-78 Atlanta

Scoring

CAZ - Moisés (Rotondi) 20'

ATL - Thiago Almada 75'

Disciplinary

ATL - Brooks Lennon 6'

CAZ - Jesús Dueñas 8'

ATL - Amar Sejdic 27'

ATL - Ronald Hernandez 42'

ATL - Tristan Muyumba 53' PK Shootout:

ATL - Lennon - Score

CAZ - Salcedo - Miss (off crossbar)

ATL - Muyumba - Score

CAZ - Rivero - Score

ATL - Berry - Saved

CAZ - Tabo - Score

ATL - Almada - Score

CAZ - Rotondi - Score

ATL - Giakoumakis - Score

CAZ - Antuna - Score

ATL - Purata - Miss

CAZ - Lotti Score

Cruz Azul wins shootout 5-4

Attendance: 41,108

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

GK: Brad Guzan (c)

D: Ronald Hernandez (Edwin Mosquera - 63')

D: Miles Robinson

D: Luis Abram

D: Caleb Wiley (Juanjo Purata - 80')

M: Tristan Muyumba

M: Amar Sejdic (Osvaldo Alonso - 63')

M: Matheus Rossetto (Miguel Berry - 89')

M: Thiago Almada

M: Brooks Lennon

F: Giorgos Giakoumakis

Substitutes not used:

Quentin Westberg

Clement Diop

Noah Cobb

Derrick Etienne Jr.

Jay Fortune

Aiden McFadden

Santiago Sosa

Tyler Wolff CRUZ AZUL STARTING LINEUP

GK: Sebastián Jurado

D: Ignacio Rivero

D: Carlos Salcedo

D: Juan Escobar (c)

D: Willer Ditta

M: Carlos Rodriguez

M: Jesus Dueñas (Christian Tabo - 84')

M: Carlos Rotondi

M: Moisés (Erik Lira - 64')

M: Uriel Antuna

F: Augusto Lotti

Substitutes not used:

Alfredo Cabañas

Andrés Gudińo

Kevin Castaño

Diber Cambindo

Jesus Escoboza

Cristian Jiménez

Rafael Guerrero

Josué Diaz

Amaury Morales

Luis Iturbide

OFFICIALS

Oliver Rodriguez (referee), Ronald Bruna(assistant), Alejandro Camarena (assistant), Jaime Garduno (fourth), Benjamin Pineda (VAR), Jorge Peregrina (AVAR).

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Images from this story

Atlanta United's Tristan Muyumba and Cruz Azul's Moisés Vieira on the field
Atlanta United's Tristan Muyumba and Cruz Azul's Moisés Vieira on the field
   



Major League Soccer Stories from July 29, 2023


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