(Atlanta United)
This is not going to be as long as I usually go for, just too much emotion pushed through these games for the results we're getting right now.
Returning Sunday against the Philadelphia Union, they found themselves outstanding on the set pieces as an own goal and an Anton Walkes header gave themselves a 2-0 lead. For the 2nd home game in a row, the club blew another late one after the 80th minute, with the first goal coming lazy immediately off the kickoff and the second coming off a beautiful strike from center back Jakob Glesnes. I don't want to take any credit away from Glesnes, but he was given all the time in the world to pull off that shot. As much as this felt like a loss again and now dropping four late points at home, I try my best to look at things with a glass half full, especially with the tendencies Atlanta United fans present on social media. The late win against Montreal and the late tie against Seattle saved points, so the law of averages came back to bite us, except they bit us Atlanta sports style.
Tonight, without manager Gabriel Heinze, was a dreadful performance on the road against NYCFC. All around bad soccer with only one early threat. This felt like 2020 in this 1-0 loss. I really don't have much to add on this right now besides Josef being gone and Hyndman's injury is costly to this team. Lots of salary cap pushed to players that are just not getting the job done. Don't know how they're going to be able to improve this roster in the summer but they have to. Badly.
The Five Stripes, along with Heinze, return to action in Atlanta on Sunday to face rival New York Red Bulls at 3:30. Are they going to show anything? What's even our identity?
(Atlanta United)
Twitter: @bleslie19