Atlanta United’s unbeaten streak ended by Revs

“That’s the hardest part,” interim manager Rob Valentino said. “Look at the score, it’s 2-1 and we’re losing the game. So you can look at that. I think the positive is there are chances.”

Daniel Rios scored the only goal of the game with a header in the 90th minute. The team fell to 0-3-2 this season without Almada in the starting lineup. New England finished with 12 shots, five of which were on target.

“We’re going to miss him a lot,” Rios said. “He was a game changer. He was the best player. We know that and we’re going to deal with it.”

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Defensively, Atlanta United were beaten twice by New England’s Giacomo Vrioni, who scored goals that Atlanta United players will regret when they watch a replay.

Atlanta United had a great run in their previous games, thanks to Almada’s magic to beat DC United and Jamal Thiare’s guile to beat Toronto. Two goals conceded in those games were overturned on review. The loss was Valentino’s first. It ended the team’s four-game unbeaten run away from home and the team’s four-game unbeaten run.

Valentino again opted for the 5-3-2 formation, starting his last available striker, Daniel Rios, along with Xande Silva, midfielders Jay Fortune, Tristan Muyumba and Bartosz Slisz, in his first game since returning from the Euros, full-backs Brooks Lennon and Caleb Wiley, centre-backs Stian Gregersen, Derrick Williams and Luis Abram, in his first game since returning from the Copa America, and goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

New England took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute thanks to a goal by Vrioni, whose shot beat Guzan at the near post. Vrioni was set up by DeJuan Jones, whose pass went through the Atlanta United midfield and past his center backs, who were wide because the ball to Jones was played across the field. Vrioni ran onto the pass and beat Gregersen with one touch before spinning Williams to create space for the shot.

“Maybe it was just a play that we mistimed and misjudged on tackles or we didn’t manage to win,” Valentino said.

Gregersen was shown a yellow card later in the half, meaning he will miss Saturday’s game at Real Salt Lake due to the accumulation of yellow cards.

Atlanta United found themselves 2-0 down in the 45th minute when Vrioni beat Gregersen at the far post to volley home a Noel Buck cross. New England had put Atlanta United under pressure for several minutes before the goal. The Five Stripes were unable to win the ball back or keep up with the Revs’ short movements in and around the penalty area.

Valentino said Atlanta United were under pressure at that point.

“No doubt about it,” Valentino said. “We were defending the crosses, we were defending a little harder in the box. We talked about… not letting the guys take that little inch and they took it and they punished us.”

Atlanta United had two good shots in the dying seconds of the first half, but New England’s Aljaz Ivacic made two great saves diving to his right.

Lennon said at halftime that the team discussed the score was not out of reach. The team made adjustments in off-ball movements and put New England under heavy pressure, but failed to find the back of the net.

Lobjanidze replaced Muyumba in the 62nd minute. Vrioni had his third goal in the 76th minute disallowed because he was ruled offside when he ran onto a pass over Williams. Tyler Wolff replaced Williams in the 80th minute.

Lobjanidze wasted an opportunity when he shot wide in the 80th minute when he was free about 14 yards from goal.

“I think the game opened up a bit more for us, we created a lot of chances that we didn’t take and that ultimately led to a loss,” Lennon said. “So those are the chances we need to close out games. The second half was a lot better for the team.”

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Atlanta United 2024 Schedule

February 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in US Open Cup

May 11 DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2

June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2

June 19 Atlanta United 1, DC United 0

June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1

June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1

July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1

July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 9 vs. Indy Eleven in US Open Cup

July 13 in Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 17 vs NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

July 26 vs. DC United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.

August 4 against Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.

August 24 at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

August 31 in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

September 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

September 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.

September 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

October 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

October 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.