Atlanta United drew 0-0 at D.C. United on Saturday night at Audi Field. The visitors dominated the action for the majority of the match, outshooting the home side 18-4, however ultimately couldn't find the breakthrough. Lucas Hoyos collected his second clean sheet of the season.
The first chance of the match fell to the D.C. United in the eighth minute. After a giveaway by Atlanta in its own half, D.C. broke quickly and Nathan Ordaz dribbled into Atlanta's box. He cut the ball back onto his right foot but curled a shot just wide of goal.Â
Moments later, Breel Embolo nearly put the visitors in front. A long switch of play found ElÃas Báez on the left wing near the endline where the Argentine crossed the ball into the six-yard box. Sean Johnson parried the cross right into the path of Embolo who controlled and tried toe pocking his effort on target but a last second block from a D.C. defender prevented the opening goal.Atlanta created a couple of chances in the final moments of the first half but wasn't able to find the net as the match halftime scoreless.Â
The second half started with Atlanta on the front foot early. In the 48th minute, the 5-Stripes put together some combination play down the right side that freed Embolo in the center of the pitch. The Swiss international laid a perfect ball with the outside of his boot into the path of Tomas Jacob who was free on the right wing. The Argentine took a touch and tried to shoot on target but it was deflected out for a corner.
In the 54th minute, Atlanta was in on goal again but unable to convert. Embolo and Alexey Miranchuk combined down the middle of the pitch. The midfielder laid the ball off to an open Cooper Sanchez inside the box but the Homegrown's shot was deflected out for a corner by a D.C. defeender. Five minutes later, Miguel Almiron got on a loose ball in midfield and raced towards the box. He found Embolo with a through ball on the left, but his strike was saved by Johnson with a kick save.
Atlanta continued to push for the opening goal throughout the second half as Almirón had another chance from the middle of the box. Matt Edwards took on a defender and dribbled down the right side towards the endline before delivering a pass that Embolo let run for Almirón, however the Paraguayan was unable to put his shot on target.Â
Atlanta had an opportunity to win the game in stoppage time as second-half substitutes Adrian Gill and Luke Brennan nearly combined for a goal. Gill beat multiple defenders and dribbled towards the endline on the left side where he sent a cross towards the face of goal that was deflected into the air by a D.C. defender. Brennan crashed the far post and met the ball with a powerful header that struck the crossbar before being cleared by a defender as the referee then blew the whistle for full-time.
Atlanta United (6-14-5, 23 points) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19, when it travels to Portland, Oregon to take on the Portland Timbers at Providence Park (10:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United MLS matches are available on Apple TV.
