Atlanta United beats D.C. United, runs win streak to four games

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Atlanta United defeated D.C. United 2-1 Saturday night at Audi Field to run its winning streak to four consecutive games. Marcelino Moreno scored the game-winner in the 82nd minute, while Josef Martinez scored for the fourth time in five games as Atlanta’s matched its second-longest win streak in club history. 

Atlanta found its rhythm early and put a shot on goal in the third minute. Martínez played a ball out wide to Brooks Lennon, who immediately found Luiz Araújo. The Brazilian created space on the right side and unleashed a strike from outside of the box that forced D.C. a diving save from goalkeeper Jon Kempin.

Martínez then gave Atlanta the lead in the 25th minute. Marcelino Moreno drove past Julian Gressel at midfield and dribbled 30 yards through the center of the pitch uncontested. Moreno spotted the run of Martínez and played a ball directly to his feet. Martínez took one took to his right while shielding defender Tony Alfaro off the ball. Kempin came off his line to close down the shot, but the Venezuelan tucked the ball inside the bottom left corner as Alfaro brought him to ground in the process. It was Martínez’s sixth goal of the year and Moreno’s third assist.

Atlanta nearly extended its lead in the 43rd minute when Ezequiel Barco played Martínez into the box where he was one-on-one with Kempin. Martínez attempted to round the keeper and was cut down by Kempin in the process, but no call was made.

D.C. leveled the match in the 54th minute. Second-half substitute Yordy Reyna curled a free kick over the head of Brad Guzan that skimmed off the crossbar and fell into the goal.

Moreno’s game-winner started from George Campbell. The defender, who just subbed in minutes earlier for Alan Franco, won a 50-50 ball at midfield and played on for fellow homegrown George Bello. Along the left wing, Bello sent a cross into the middle of the box for Martinez, who played down the cross between two D.C. United defenders before laying off for Barco. Barco quickly passed to Moreno, who took a couple of steps to his right to clear space, then unleashed a right-footed shot to the far post to beat Kempin.

Brad Guzan made six saves on the night to preserve the win. His biggest may have come in the 86th minute when he dove to his right to stop a screaming attempt from second-half substitute Felipe. 

Atlanta (6-6-9, 27 points) returns to action Saturday when it hosts Nashville SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3:30 p.m., Univision/TUDN, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).

MATCH INFO

Atlanta United 2, D.C. United 1

Audi Field

Washington D.C.

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL – Josef Martínez (Marcelino Moreno, Anton Walkes) 25’ [HIGHLIGHT]

DC – Yordy Reyna 54’ [HIGHLIGHT]

ATL – Marcelino Moreno (Ezequiel Barco) [HIGHLIGHT] 82’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – George Bello (yellow) 29’

DC – Tony Alfaro (yellow) 50’

DC – Russel Canouse (yellow) 58’

DC – Junior Moreno (yellow) 73’

DC – Julian Gressel (yellow) 75’

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan ©; Brooks Lennon, Miles Robinson, Alan Franco (George Campbell – 72’), Anton Walkes, George Bello; Amar Sejdić (Matheus Rossetto – 61’), Marcelino Moreno; Ezequiel Barco, Luiz Araújo (Ronald Hernández – 89’), Josef Martínez.

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Mikey Ambrose, Tyler Wolff, Jurgen Damm, Erik López, Erick Torres.

D.C. UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Jon Kempin; Steve Birnbaum ©, Joseph Mora (Yordy Reyna – 45’), Tony Alfaro; Andy Najar (Ramon Abila – 84’), Junior Moreno, Russell Canouse (Felipe – 84’), Julian Gressel; Edison Flores (Drew Skundrich – 61’), Kevin Paredes (Griffin Yow – 87’), Ola Kamara.

Substitutes not used: Chris Seitz, Chris Odoi-Atsem, Yamil Asad, Moses Nyeman.

OFFICIALS

Nima Saghafi (referee), Micheal Barwegen (assistant), Jason White (assistant), JJ Bilinski (fourth), Chico Grajeda (VAR), Craig Lowry (AVAR).

TEAM NOTES

• Atlanta United won four consecutive matches for the fourth time in club history.
• It is tied for the second-longest winning streak in club history.
• Ezequiel Barco set a club record with eight fouls won.

ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED

Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,548), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.