New York City FC let a two-goal second half lead to Atlanta United as they fall 4-3 and gain only one point in their two-game road trip. A concerning second half collapse saw an own goal trigger a defensive fall from grace that threw cold water over a strong offensive performance.
Atlanta had tremendous difficulty with City’s press in the first half. Players like Hannes Wolf and Alonso Martinez pushed the defense into poor passes and even worse decisions. The first goal came from that combination as Martinez stole the ball from the offensive third, then took a shot on target. The rebound found the foot of Wolf who finished the effort to give the away side the lead. NYC pushed on from there and appeared destined to score a second.
Atlanta grew into the game as the half came to a close. A combination of passes from Saba and Emmanuel Latte Lath found Alexey Miranchuk near the top of the box for the equalizer. While City may have lost a bit of momentum by giving up the equalizer, they showed little signs of it affecting their play to kick off the second half.
It took only a matter of minutes for City to regain the lead when a foul in the box sent Martinez to the spot. He converted his penalty chance and gave his side the lead 2-1. From there Wolf doubled the lead from an assist by Julian Fernandez. NYC was in control with Atlanta on the back-foot but the 62nd minute altered the momentum greatly.
A pass into the box from the wing caught the lead foot of Keaton Parks who accidentally knocked the ball into his own net. From there Atlanta continued to push forward, finding the equalizer off of Miguel Almiron’s header and first goal of the season in the 75th minute. The comeback was completed in the 84th minute when Lath scored the game-winner unassisted.
The demoralizing loss keeps City at eight points with a record of 2-2-2. Now head coach Pascal Jansen has to lick his wounds and prepare the team for a home game against Minnesota United next Sunday afternoon. A game that now has important consequences to the club’s confidence in the first third of the season.
STARTING XI:
New York City FC: Freese; Ilenic, Haak, Martins, O’Toole, Parks (84′ Risa), Shore (90′ Bakrar), Moralez, Fernandez (80′ Ojeda), Martinez, Wolf
Atlanta United FC: Guzan; Lennon, Gregersen (76′ Abram), Williams, Chong Qui (58′ Xande Silva), Slisz (46′ Fortune), Miranchuk, Klich (57′ Edwards), Almiron (90′ Reilly), Lath, Lobianidze
SCORING SUMMARY:
15′ (New York City FC) Hannes Wolf (2) unassisted
42′ (Atlanta United FC) Alexey Miranchuk (1) assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath & Saba Lobianidze
48′ (New York City FC) Alonso Martinez (4) PK
51′ (New York City FC) Hannes Wolf (3) assisted by Julian Fernandez
62′ (Atlanta United FC) Keaton Parks (1) Own Goal
75′ (Atlanta United FC) Miguel Almiron (1) assisted by Xande Silva
84′ (Atlanta United FC) Emmanuel Latte Lath (5) unassisted
DISCIPLINE:
90′ (Atlanta United FC) Brad Guzan – YELLOW CARD
photo by Jordan Bank