D.C. Uniteds loss to Atlanta highlights home woes, offensive issues

July 10, 2024

D.C. United’s first season under Troy Lesesne has been an expected mix of hope and disappointment, but the one area that continues to confound the MLS organization is how it has struggled at Audi Field.

With a 1-0 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday, United’s winless streak at home swelled to five (0-2-3) and its season record at the Buzzard Point venue dropped to 3-4-3.

Because the team is in transition, United (4-8-7) figured to have trouble earning points on the road. But it is also having a difficult time at home — and lately against opponents with losing records.

Overall, United has gone seven games without a victory since its May 11 visit to Atlanta.

“It’s a tough position to be in right now,” Lesesne said. “Everyone’s frustrated — that’s clear to see — but at the same time we’re not doing enough to earn ourselves points, and that’s the truth. We have to demand more.”

Thiago Almada, a member of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup championship team, scored a sensational goal from long distance in the 79th minute after toying with Mateusz Klich and Matti Peltola.

D.C. has gone scoreless in its past two matches and has led once in seven games.

“Every time we get around the box, I feel that we are rushing and we end up choosing the wrong decision,” said Christian Benteke, who entered the night as MLS’s second-leading scorer with 13 goals but has come up empty in three straight matches. In the previous meeting with Atlanta, the Belgian striker posted a hat trick.

D.C. goalkeeper Tyler Miller made his first appearance since Aug. 26, ending Alex Bono’s streak of 26 consecutive starts. Miller made two excellent saves before the announced crowd of 15,899, but Almada’s goal extended United’s streak without a shutout to 13 games.

Lesesne said he has been happy with Bono but wanted to shake things up and give Miller a chance after his recovery from major shoulder surgery.

“I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” Miller said. “It just felt so nice to get in front of the crowd again.”

In the first half, Miller made a diving save on Almada’s 12-yard threat. In the 77th minute, he was called upon after Aaron Herrera’s giveaway led to a swift counterattack. With Xande Silva bearing down, Miller made a one-on-one leg save.

Two minutes later, though, Miller could do little about Almada’s beauty.

From the sideline, Almada cut inside against Klich, then dodged Peltola’s challenge.

“It was a little bit too easy, especially for this type of player, to leave him with so much space,” Benteke said.

Almada took full advantage, lacing the 26-yard shot beyond Miller’s reach and into the side netting for his fifth goal of the year.

“When you give a special player like that an opportunity to have a clean look on goal, it’s dangerous,” Miller said. “He struck it pure.”

United had several late chances, but Brad Guzan made a flying slap save on Benteke’s close-range header, rookie Jacob Murrell missed the near corner from six yards, and former D.C. defender Derrick Williams blocked Benteke’s close bid.

Atlanta (5-8-5) recorded its first shutout in nine matches.

“We defend quite well,” Lesesne said. “We press quite well, but with the ball right now, we have to do better and we have to be a little bit cleaner and be a little bit more composed in certain areas in the game.”

United acquires Badji

United reached a deal with Dominique Badji, a longtime MLS forward who spent the past several months in Turkey with second-flight Bandirmaspor, people familiar with the move said. The MLS transfer window opens July 18.

Badji, 31, starred at Alexandria’s Episcopal High. He had five goals and three assists in 23 regular season appearances with Cincinnati last year and has scored 43 career goals in 200 MLS matches.

Pirani returns

Midfielder Gabriel Pirani entered in the 81st minute after missing one game while in his native Brazil finalizing a green card for U.S. permanent residency. He will no longer count against United’s international player limit.

Defensive midfielder Jackson Hopkins (lower back injury) missed his second consecutive match but might return Saturday against the visiting Houston Dynamo. Attacker Kristian Fletcher (ankle) was not in uniform.

Atlanta’s absences

Three Atlanta regulars were absent because of international duty: Luis Abram is with Peru at Copa América while Saba Lobjanidze (Georgia) and Bartosz Slisz (Poland) are at the European Championship.

Giorgos Giakoumakis (24 goals in 41 regular season matches) was transferred this week to Cruz Azul in Mexico.

Because of the roster shortage, Atlanta called up 20-year-old midfielder Matías Gallardo, son of former Argentine star Marcelo Gallardo, who played for D.C. in 2008.

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