Atlanta United triumphed over the Colorado Rapids 4-0 in entrance of their home supporters with a dominant efficiency throughout.
The first probability of the sport got here off a slip by Lalas Abubbakar. But each groups noticed shaky moments in the first few moments, giving the ball away in harmful areas to make it anybody’s sport.
Colorado tried on a number of events to get behind Atlanta by means of lengthy balls however have been unsuccesful with Atlanta center-back Juanjo Purata successful a number of aerials duels. Atlanta’s excessive defensive position allowed the Rapids to spring ahead on a number of counter-attacks in the first half.
But a second of brilliance lastly got here in the twenty ninth minute as Thiago Almada gave Atlanta United the lead. The Argentine curled in a free kick from distance that left Rapids Goalkeeper William Yarbrough rooted to the spot, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead. The Argentina worldwide redeemed himself after his botched penalty kick try by scoring his third free kick of the season.
The Rapids tried to reply as Danny Levya tried his luck from distance however Atlanta goalkeeper Quentin Westberg made a cushty save.
The first half was dominated by Atlanta, with 70% possession and outshooting Colorado 14 to 1. Atlanta additionally discovered plenty of pleasure by means of the center of the subject with Almada and Araujo linking as much as create a number of good possibilities. The Rapids will have been lucky to enter halftime solely down by one after the missed penalty by Almada and the quantity of fine appears Atlanta had at objective.
The early moments of the second half featured the Rapids upping the tempo only a bit, forcing Atlanta to remain alert defensively. Head coach Gonzalo Pineda opted for a change early on, bringing on striker Giorgos Giakoumakis who created a number of half-chances together with his robust hold-up play.
From the seventieth minute onwards, the sport started to open up. Each facet had a number of possibilities on both finish, forcing their respective goalkeepers to make saves. The sport began to get slightly tight for Atlanta as they needed to see out the win with Colorado placing extra gamers in assault.
Atlanta doubled their lead with a deserved objective from Luiz Araujo in the eightieth minute. The Brazil worldwide positioned the ball properly throughout the objective to provide the hosts a two-goal cushion. The second objective had been coming for Atlanta. Araujo’s efficiency deserved a objective and he acquired it.
Atlanta then discovered their third of the sport when an Almada shot from out large was deflected round the six-yard field earlier than substitute Tyler Wolff put the ball in the again of the internet simply after coming into the sport.
Giorgos Giakoumakis scored the fourth objective when he chipped Yarbrough and blasted the ball into the again of the internet after flying previous him. The Greek worldwide scored his sixth objective of the season and proved to be efficient when subbed on.
GK: Quentin Westberg – 8/10 – Was largely a spectator in the first half however saved one shot from distance. Made a number of actually good saves to in the second half to maintain a clear sheet.
LB: Ronald Hernandez – 6/10 – Great problem close to his personal field to spring Atlanta forwards on a counter-attack. Was up and down the left-hand facet contributing each in assault and protection.
CB: Juanjo Purata – 7/10 – Was dominant in the air defensively and stopped a number of counter-attacks by the Rapids. Had a number of headers go simply over the bar on Atlanta’s nook kicks.
CB: Miles Robinson – 8/10 – Made an important final gasp problem to disclaim an early alternative.
RB: Brooks Lennon – 7/10 – Was energetic down the right-hand facet all through the sport, produced a few half-chances by reducing in on his left foot and taking pictures from distance. Picked up an help.
DM: Santiago Sosa – 6/10 – Bad giveaway in first 3 minutes and was shaky in the opening moments. Recovered in a while and had a quiet however efficient sport cleansing up in the midfield.
DM: Matheus Rosseto – 6/10 – Had a quiet however stable sport and did not put a foot flawed.
LW: Derrick Etienne Jr. – 6/10 – Was quiet in the first half and had a shot go simply large close to the finish of the first 45.
AM: Thiago Almada – 9/10 – The solely factor retaining his ranking from a ten/10 was the missed penalty. The midfielder was in all places for the Five Stripes in assault and scored one other spectacular free kick.
RW: Luiz Araujo – 8/10 – Had a really energetic first half that included a shot that led to a penatly kick. Was additionally good monitoring again in protection. Ended his goalscoring drought with a well-placed end to seal the win with considered one of his higher performances for Atlanta.
ST: Miguel Berry – 5/10 – Was a bystander for many of the sport and was subbed out early in the second half.
Substitutes
ST: Giorgos Giakoumakis (53′ for Berry) – 8/10 – Just after approaching, he displayed his nice hold-up play and had a shot go simply large in a while in the sport. Set up the third objective with a pleasant ball out large to Almada and scored a terrific solo objective
DM: Franco Ibarra (74′ for Sosa) – 6/10 – A quiet cameo however was efficient in the midfield.
ST: Machop Chol (84′ for Araujo) – N/A
CB: Luis Abram (84′ for Rosseto) – N/A
AM: Tyler Wolff (84′ for Etienner Jr.) – 7/10 – scored considered one of the best possibilities he’ll ever get and was shiny when he got here on.
Manager
Gonzalo Pineda – 7/10 – Left many stunned together with his beginning lineup nevertheless it labored fairly nicely in the first half. The substitution to convey on Giakoumakis was masterful as it created extra alternatives for Atlanta.
GK: William Yarbrough – 5/10 – Saw Almada’s penalty fly over the bar and had a number of good saves to maintain the Rapids in the sport however was unable to cease a flurry of targets going in late in the sport.
CB: Danny Wilson – 4/10 – Struggled to maintain up with Atlanta’s possession based mostly sport.
CB: Andreas Maxso – 5/10 – Was most likely the better of the three center-backs that began the sport for Colorado.
CB: Lalas Abubakar – 5/10 – Slipped in the first minute that led to an opportunity for Atlanta nevertheless it fortunately led to nothing.
LM: Alex Gersbach – 4/10 – Got caught in with challenges on the wing towards Brooks Lennon however struggled to comprise Araujo as he dribbled previous him a number of occasions.
CM: Danny Levya 6/10 – Unfortunate to concede penalty early on. Had a shot from distance however did not do a lot after that. Was a shiny spot for Colorado alongside Ronan.
CM: Ralph Priso-Mbongue 4/10 – Picked up an early yellow card and struggled to comprise Almada and was subbed off.
CM: Connor Ronan 7/10 – Found house took the Rapids’ second shot of sport that led to their first nook early in the second half. Was considered one of the lone shiny spots for the Rapids.
RM: Sam Nicholson – 4/10 – Didn’t actually do a lot and was ineffective.
ST: Kevin Cabral – 4/10 – Had a minimal affect on the sport with little service.
ST: Michael Barrios – 4/10 – Like Cabral, he had little service and due to this fact wasn’t capable of do a lot.
Substitutes
LW: Jonathan Lewis (64′ for Cabral) – 4/10 – Had one shot however was in the end ineffective.
CB: Moise Bombito (64′ for Abubakar) – 6/10 – Was energetic in the again line and made a number of good challenges.
LM: Calvin Harris (79′ for Priso-Mbongue) – N/A
CM: Yosuke Hanya (88′ for Levya) – N/A
CB: Sebastian Anderson (88′ for Wilson) – N/A
Manager
Robin Fraser – 5/10 – His lineup saved them in the sport in the first half, however his substitutes did not actually do a lot.
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