Yeah, we got a game @DC. Probably ain't gonna win. Them's th' Cliff's Notes. @GunnerJacket, feel free to elaborate on my assessment
D.C. United vs. Atlanta United Audi Field – Washington, D.C. October 3 – 7:00 PM ET Fox Sports Southeast AJC.com United page here. MLSsoccer.com preview here. AUFC.com preview here. DCU preview here. Notable absences: DCU - Arriola and Paredes ATL - TBD (Roberson pointed out that likely Damm and Rossetto will be absent but that's all unsure.)
Contrary to my astute colleague I'm more hopeful about tonight's affair but only because DCU has been every bit as bad as Atlanta this season and arguably worse: If you combined the team's points total you'd still only be tied for 4th in the east. DCU has a problem similar to Atlanta in that they can't score. Former AUFC players Gressel and Asad each have 1 goal apiece... and they're only one behind team leader Ola Kamara. Locals are hoping this is the year that finally sees them done with Coach Olson as they've lacked any cohesive team play since the roster moves that came with Rooney's departure. Hamid is still an able keeper but when your best defender is Birnbaum as part of back four that can't release the ball then you have a problem. Honestly, if Atlanta can replicate their form from the Dallas match they should win this contest, even without a DP on hand. Atlanta has shown episodes of greater defensive solidity and I'd be surprised if DCU could pull off the type of fast breaks or set pieces that have cost Atlanta so many goals. So if the Stripe's can stay in the contest longer without surrendering a goal they'll be encouraged by their chances up top. Especially if Barco becomes an option. Atlanta wasn't supposed to be here so the team is obviously questioning themselves but they also use that as evidence they can and should be better. DCU, on the other hand, is supposed to be here so they're struggling to grasp where to go. I'm hopeful of a win but pretty confident of a draw.
Robinson starts, so he's obviously healthy. Damm also makes the bench but no Barco. Wonder what's the longest a team has played without a DP?
4' and Atlanta has already had 3 crosses into the box. That one by Lennon is deftly hit one-time by Gallagher so that it rolls just beyond Hamid. Defense let Lennon have too much time.
16' and Gallagher hurts his foot following through on a shot but hits the defender instead of the ball.
20' and Jahn heads just over! Lennon looking very Gressel-like tonight. Atlanta with 5 shots already.
30' and a DCU free kick leads to some handbags between Escobar and Brilliant. Play has settled a bit.
33' - Stripes have a free kick just outside rt side of box. The clearance falls to Adams who sends it wide of the goal.
0-2! Lennon! Misclearance by DC allows Lennon to collect on the edge of the box and swing into the upper corner with his left.
HT: 0-2 Lead is deserved, as Atlanta is not only the more lively team but in a rarity for this season have the more creative players. Lennon, Gallagher, Hyndman, Bello, and Adams have done really well in moving the ball around and pushing forward. Yellow cards are a concern, though.
Watching the replay of Lennon's goal he does a fantastic job with that first touch to settle the lose ball, setting him up with a great shot opportunity.
48' and we have a bureaucratic kerfuffle where a DCU player who came on at halftime may not have been on the official team sheet.
So in that very 2020 moment DCU brought on a player who wasn't on the official team sheet, an issue which took 7 minutes to sort out. DCU allowed to stay at 11.
0-3! Gallagher! Gallagher, Hyndman, and Jahn (who's played very well) with a series of short, tight passes that ends with Gallagher scoring from just to the side of the goal mouth.
I don't get the ruling. What is to keep DC from doing this every game. There was no negative for them.
It will surely be reviewed again in mid-week and at the least I suspect the particular player won't be eligible next match as essentially he gets a red card. I think.
78' and Damm and Castillo come on for Bello and Robinson, mainly to get those yellow cards off the pitch.