It’s hard to find many positives after sitting through what can only be described as an absolute snoozefest for the first hour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last night. D.C. United walked away with a 0-0 draw against Atlanta United, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of a match that struggled to get out of first gear until the closing stages.
A Game of Two Halves (and One New Pitch)
The big talking point before kickoff was the surface. Atlanta has finally moved away from the “fake grass” and installed proper natural turf. However, it clearly hasn’t bedded in yet. Players from both sides were slipping all over the place, making it incredibly difficult to find any rhythm or flow in the passing game.
- Subs Change the Game: The first 60 minutes were tough to watch. However, once the substitutions started rolling in, the energy shifted completely. The Black-and-Red looked more lively, creative, and actually looked like they wanted to find a winner.
- Servania Stunner: Brandon Servania nearly produced the moment of the season. Just before he was subbed off, he unleashed a rocket from about 30 yards out. It had the keeper beaten all ends up but rattled off the crossbar and went over. Talk about inches!
- the Peltola Engine: If there was one man who didn’t let the dull atmosphere get to him, it was Matti Peltola. He was immense in the middle of the park: tackles, interceptions, and a non-stop motor. He really is becoming the heart of this midfield.
Match Stats & Lineup
While we didn’t get the win, a clean sheet on the road is never a bad thing, especially with Sean Johnson making three crucial saves to keep us in it.
| Statistic | Atlanta United | D.C. United |
| Possession | 71% | 29% |
| Total Shots | 7 | 4 |
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 1 |
| Pass Accuracy | 88% | 75% |
| xG (Expected Goals) | 0.26 | 0.16 |
Table Outlook
This draw keeps us ticking along in the Eastern Conference standings, but we’ll be looking to turn these single points into three when we head back home. The creativity we saw in the final 20 minutes needs to be there from the first whistle next time out.
Vamos United!
Leave a Reply