Atlanta United is making the most out of the final minutes of matches so far this season.
A goal in stoppage time from Marcelino Moreno won the match for Atlanta United on Saturday as the team beat D.C. United 1-0 at Audi Field for Atlantaās first road win of the season.
The game-winning goal came off a corner kick delivered by defender Brooks Lennon in stoppage time. Moreno's header trickled past the keeper for his first goal of the season. It was also Lennon's first assist of 2022.
For the third time this season Atlanta United changed the result in the final moments of the match. The 2-1 win over Charlotte FC on March 13 and the 3-3 draw against CF MontrƩal on March 19 were also determined by second-half stoppage time goals scored by Atlanta.
āIt says a lot about a team that doesnāt give up,ā head coach Gonzalo Pineda said. āLast year, I remember we gave up a lot of points at the end of games and now weāre doing the complete opposite. And that for me is a massive achievement.ā
The starting XI for Atlanta United saw three changes from the last time out against CF MontrƩal on March 19 as midfielder Thiago Almada, midfielder Jake Mulraney and defender George Campbell all got the start.
It was Almadaās first career start for the 5-Stripes and Mulraneyās first of the season. Campbell lined up at center back alongside Alan Franco. Miles Robinson got some rest after playing with the U.S. menās national team during the last round of World Cup qualifiers.
Moreno and Almada started together for the first time and both players were looking to create early. Almada passed into the box for Josef MartĆnez and Mulraney in the opening 10 minutes. In the 22nd minute, Moreno dribbled through the defense and slipped a ball to MartĆnez, but MartĆnez was caught offside.
āThese are the first games that weāre playing together now,ā Moreno said. āI knew him as a player in Argentina, but Iāve never played with him before. So, I think weāre getting to know each other, and I think we can continue to do these things on the field.ā
Atlantaās best chances in the first half came late. In the 35th minute, Lennonās cross from the right side was close enough to the near post that D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid came out to slap it away. His block bounced straight to Almada in prime position at the top of the box, but Almadaās shot caught MartĆnez on the side.
Then in first half stoppage time, Mulraney dribbled the ball down the middle of the pitch and dished it to midfielder Matheus Rossetto. Hamid saved Rossettoās firmly driven shot for an Atlanta United corner kick.
Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan, wearing a new cherry red goalkeeper kit, came up with two big saves in the match, including in the 36th minute when he denied a dangerous left-footed shot from D.C. forward Nigel Robertha.
āIt wasnāt the cleanest with us on the ball,ā Guzan said. āBut thereās other areas where maybe in years past we didnāt have those areas where weād be able to roll our sleeves up and join a dog fight and come out on top. And we did that tonight.ā
It took a strong defensive effort from Atlanta United for the side to get its first clean sheet of the season. Defender Andrew Gutman was tasked with handling D.C. midfielder Julian Gressel, who threatened with his service and delivery on corner kicks. After an errant pass from Campbell in the first half led to a corner kick, defender Brendan Hines-Ike was left open, but his header went over the crossbar. Later in the 61st minute, defender Steven Birnbaum had a close-range header off Gressel's corner, but the chance went wide.
D.C. United finished with 10 corner kicks and 19 crosses on the night.
āD.C. United is a very good team,ā Pineda said. āWe faced a team that is very direct. They like to overwhelm with pressure and the second balls and winning those aerial duels. Itās hard sometimes to play against these types of teams because theyāre always on the front foot. Theyāre always aggressive.ā
Although MartĆnez has scored seven career goals against D.C. United, Moreno is quickly making a name for himself at Audi Field. Last season, Moreno also had the late game-winner on the road against D.C. United, scoring on right-footed, low-driven ball in the 82nd minute.
āI think weāre a team that we train like we play,ā Moreno said. āWeāre always giving 100%, giving maximum effort to do our best. And I think you saw in the last game at home when weāre able to come back. And so, weāre a group thatās always fighting.ā
The matchup between the Eastern Conference opponents was physical. In the first 30 minutes, 13 total fouls were called. Five yellow cards were given out and 32 total fouls called.
Last time Atlanta United was on the road, it was shut out against Colorado Rapids. Saturday was another physical, tough matchup on the road and this time Atlanta United stayed in the match. The fact that Atlanta United was able to get its third win of the season, and first win away, shows the teamās determination.
āIt was a very hard game to play, very physical, but I think due to our talent, our experience, weāre able to take the three points back to Atlanta,ā Moreno said.
Atlanta United and D.C. United meet again later this season on Aug. 28. Up next, Atlanta travels to the Carolinas on April 10 for its first-ever match at Bank of America Stadium against Charlotte FC.