Really fun to see the team play well, shoot, and score. I presume all Atlanta games are exciting with their good offense and poor defense. They just can't figure us out though...
Some thoughts in freedom, good game (first half a little boring), good win, nice goals. This win feels better than the one vs Christos FC. I still haven't figured out how a talented team like Atlanta hasn't figured out a mediocre team like us yet. I mean, 6 points in 2 games, they can't really say much.
DC is Red and Black. Atlanta was Red and Blechhh. Their jerseys looked like second-tier team practice jerseys. Observations: Just as at the Christos match, Benny started 33-year old Le Toux and 35 year-old Marcelo on very warm nights. And they survived! Ortiz was a bit more active, but was overshadowed by Brown IMO, who seemed much more dangerous and also helped out on defense. Harkes got more involved as the game progressed, and Korb was very active. He got his first assist since whenever on Nyarko's goal. Where was Sam? I haven't heard that he was injured. I think we could have used him tonight. Our defense worried me - we backed off way too much, which gave them room to close in and pick their spots. Nice win, and a decent crowd for a weeknight.
A pleasant evening -- for once. Got to meet @Winoman, a gentleman and scholar. Dasdak was serving homeopathic gin and tonics, I think they waved a bottle of gin "near" the glass full of tonic water. The second goal was nice, cross from Korb, flick on by Harkes and nice finish by Nyarko. Actually looked like real soccer. Hamid at the death to keep the 3. One final observation -- Brown's pace made Atlanta honest. I'll give Ortiz props for the pressure that led to Lucho's goal. However, other than that, he is slow, slow, slow and Atlanta knew it and wasn't bothered by his runs at all.
I think Opare in defense instead of Boswell was key for this win; I don't know why Boswell was out, but I am happy he was, Villalba was a flash and even Opare had to sweat to close him down, Boswell wouldn't have even seeing him.
I also thought during the game that Acosta really has another pace compared to all other our players, not only he moves faster but he also thinks faster. For the kind of game they play, he would be perfect for a team like Atlanta.
Boswell is injured again -- groin. I agree, Opare has looked solid this year. He has size and pace. Now, maybe Birnbaum can get out of his funk because he has been mediocre at best and not very often at that.
Nice meeting you, too, @griffin1108, and your son! I too thought Ortiz played better than he has recently, but as more of a 'Pajoy' type role. He did pressure the defense, and helped to force the turnover that led to Acosta's goal. I think that Brown might actually turn into something nice up front: he had a nice turn-and-shoot that reminded me somewhat of what Chris Rolfe used to do. As much as I like Bobby Boswell, he has been letting defenders go past him like a matador letting a bull charge past. I think he's just too slow anymore. It's a shame, too, because until recently, he's been a very good defender.
one united. ******** atlanta. they're on NY 1 & 2 level for me for trying to steal our identity, but we've dad dicked them twice. 3 points tonight makes me a lot happier on my way up to philly saturday
Another observation that stood out was Hamid's rabid celebration at the final whistle. I guess it's expected after the save, but that display of emotion is pretty rare for our team. We're usually pretty subdued ... sometimes even just going through the motions. For a Ben Olsen team we have a lot of shy quiet types like Jeffrey, Kemp, Neagle, Franklin, De Leon ... I hope to see more of this from Hamid in the future. Sometimes a team needs that leader to raise the intensity and demand more from everyone.
also for whoever had posted this team was worse than 2013, i mean get a ********ing grip. yea there have been some bad spots but that team won 3 total and 2 out of 31 or 32 after the home opener.
Wait ... TWO goals? In all seriousness, we really match up well with Atlanta. I think it's because they don't press much on defense -- gives some of our slower (of mind) players the chance to think. Nyarko would make such a perfect off-the-bench veteran option for a championship-contending team. Acosta was Good Acosta tonight -- kept the hot-headedness to a minimum, better at holding possession. Like the new guy in limited minutes. On one high-pressure play he covered 40 yards in the amount of time it would take Ortiz to cover 20. In what numerically still looks like a lost season, you've got to savor matches like this one.
On the late game breakaway, I think he was being too clever by half. The only explanation for him to shoot the ball right at Parkhurst was because I think he was trying to nutmeg him. It was like the worst possible judgement possible. He puts the ball anywhere else and we are up 3-1. That could've been the difference between 3 points and 1 point if the ref had called the handball on Marcelo.
Gutsy game. Even after we conceded the guys gave full effort. The big difference last night was a deliberate plan to play one touch passes forward and wide. This is why we were finally able to catch a defense off balance and create space for attacks.
True and that will be part of Atlanta's shameful legacy for some time. The flight home will be dominated by How the fook did that happen? Let's hope it's the beginning of a trend.
They have tried one touch before, sadly the other side or the ball boys got the pass. Tonight it was us to us not us to them
I've seen displays of emotion on recent DC United teams. It's just this season there hasn't been much to celebrate.
Surprised we got 2 goals, but we really should have had more. Hit the cross bar, missed the target on a number of good opportunities. Hell, even Acosta's goal hit the post. Keep practicing on the shooting, guys. Great game by Nyarko. And Hamid, obviously.
Atlanta is the highest scoring team in the league, so great job there. Maybe Nyarko's remarks about attacking and defending in numbers hit home and now we can see better performances with better team interplay. I feel good about their chances in Philly. I don't think they'll get many quality chances on either side and both keepers are studs, but I think United is desperate now and that's a good look for them.