Atlanta United lose 2-1 at New England Revolution

A late header from Daniel Rios wasn’t enough to pull Atlanta United out of a two-goal deficit and the 5-Stripes lost on the road to the New England Revolution 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night.

The game was almost a two-halves affair for Atlanta United. After conceding two goals in the first half, the team came out of the break with a bit more fervor and drive to try to salvage an away result.

“It was a lot more fluid in the second half,” winger Brooks Lennon said. “The game opened up a little bit more for us and we created a lot of chances that we didn’t capitalize on and that ultimately led to a loss.”

The night started well for Atlanta United, and the visitors took the first shot of the game in the opening minutes. A long cross came to the feet of Caleb Wiley. The home player quickly got the ball to Xande Silva who anticipated the shot in the box. The Portuguese forward sent a solid shot on target that was deflected over the goal for a corner in the second minute of the game.

The first few minutes were fruitful for Atlanta United, but it was the home team that opened the scoring in the 11th minute. The Revs, playing directly, quickly moved the ball up the field. After receiving a long vertical pass from DeJuan Jones, Giacomo Vrioni slowed down to bait Derrick Williams. One last pass and the forward scored his fourth goal in as many games for the Revs, making the score 1-0 for New England.

In the 45th minute, New England doubled their lead. After moving the ball around in their third offensive zone, Noel Buck sent the ball with his left foot towards the far post. Vrioni rushed in to finish and score his first-half brace.

“At that point, we were defending crosses, we were defending a little harder in the box and then in an instant, they took us out,” interim coach Rob Valentino said in his post-match press conference. “We talked about being man for man in the box and not letting the players take that inch, and they took it, and they punished us.”

Atlanta United nearly cut the deficit to New England in first-half stoppage time. Bartosz Slisz, fresh off a free agent appearance for Poland, dribbled toward goal and fired a right-footed shot. New England goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic blocked the hard effort. The 5-Stripes were about to capitalize on the ensuing corner when Jay Fortune volleyed a bouncing ball that appeared to be headed for the corner. Ivacic dove to make another tough save and preserve New England’s lead.

Atlanta United found a good opportunity in the 61st minute. Ríos intercepted a New England pass in Atlanta’s attacking zone and passed the ball to Fortune. The midfielder dribbled forward and fired a shot from the top of the box, but his effort wasn’t enough to test Ivacic. Atlanta United nearly deflected the ball on a corner a few minutes later, but once again Ivacic got a hand to it.

Ivacic finished the night with six saves.

Atlanta center backs Derrick Williams and Stian Gregersen dropped back and slid in to stop what was almost a hat-trick by Vrioni in the 74th minute. The next minute, the New England forward appeared to have his hat-trick after all when he finished on a breakaway. The goal was disallowed for offside.

After bringing on reinforcements and fresher players, Atlanta United pulled one back in the 91st minute. Ronald Hernández, who came on as a substitute, sent a superb left-footed lob into the box. Ríos, hooked behind his defender at the far post, redirected Hernández’s pass into the net for the forward’s fourth MLS goal of the season.

“The second half was more dynamic in our favor, but they still created transitions in transition, so we have to try to eliminate that as well,” Valentino said.

Valentino had his squad expanded for Wednesday’s game. All three players who were away on international duty at the UEFA European Championship and Copa America were back in the squad and available for selection. Slisz (Poland) and Luis Abram (Peru) started. Saba Lobjanidze was available from the bench and came on as a second-half substitute.

Thiago Almada was not with the squad in Foxborough. Fortune occupied the No. 10 position in Valentino’s starting XI.

The outcome was reversed for both teams, as the two teams entered their second MLS meeting of the season after very different results. Four days ago, Atlanta earned an electric 2-1 victory over Toronto FC, extending its four-game unbeaten streak. Meanwhile, New England entered the midweek matchup looking to bounce back from a 5-1 loss to reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

For Atlanta United, the final pass and clinical finishing were off the mark on several occasions in Wednesday’s game. Lennon, for example, was able to send the ball wide but failed to connect with runners in the box. Despite a few missed chances, the team finished the night with 20 shots.

“The positive is that there are chances, but expected goals and chances, they don’t mean anything to me unless they end up in the back of the net,” Valentino said.

The turnaround is quick for the 5-Stripes after the midweek match in Foxborough. Atlanta United’s long road trip continues through the July 4 holiday with a match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, July 6 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Atlanta United will be without Stian Gregersen on Saturday. The centre-back received his fifth yellow card of the season at New England and will be suspended for the club’s next match.

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