Was this Atlanta United’s wake-up call in Major League Soccer?

The Five Stripes still have work to do after a 3-1 defeat to DC. What was there in the past, was stifled by a team that had struggled on the road.

The joy seen above was replicated early on in Atlanta United’s home return…but…

Everyone read the press leading up to the DC United visit to Bobby Dodd Stadium to take on the “other” United in Atlanta this past Sunday afternoon.

“DC United has been outscored 8-2 this season when they’re on the road…”

“Atlanta scores goals… DC United doesn’t…This should be three points… easy..”

Turns out, you just have “those days” sometimes. Days like Sunday happen for an expansion side. MLS experts and fans were reminded of the atypical nature of the league – there are no locks.

For the first time since October 12, 2014 in a 3-1 win at Houston Dynamo, DC put three in the back of the net on the road and surprised a lot of folks in their win over Atlanta of the same score line. The result compresses the Eastern Conference just a little bit more.

Atlanta United did what they have become known for under head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, using their speed on offense and defense to successfully put DC United on their heels for the first quarter of the match.

Yamil Asad connected with Kenwyne Jones for a header that got past DC United keeper Bill Hamid in the ninth minute for a 1-0 advantage, that could have been 3-0 in the first twenty minutes very easily.

As Greg Garza overlapped from the back and, consistently beat the DC defense on its right flank, Tito Villalba had two point-blank opportunities in the next ten minutes to extend the Atlanta lead. Both were parried away by Hamid and DC escaped the opening salvo.

"“I think we played a great first twenty minutes of the game. We created many scoring chances,” Head Coach “Tata” Martino said afterwards. “Although, after that, we made some defensive mistakes that ended up being very costly, and in addition to that, we were lacking consistency at times throughout the game.”"

Those two close misses on offense seemed to take the steam out of Atlanta as, in the 25^th minute, a shot by Lamar Neagle got under Michael Parkhurst and past Atlanta goalie Alec Kann for the equalizer. Nine minutes later, Luciano Acosta slotted a ball to Kann’s left to give the visitors their first lead of the match.

Sebastian LeToux added the last goal for DC United in the 55^th as he was called onside in an offside trap by the Atlanta backline and pushed the ball past Kann into the net.

With the win, Atlanta stays above the red line at 11 points on goal difference (3-3-2), both Chicago and DC United sit just behind with identical records. Only three points separate third from ninth in the conference after Sunday’s play.

The story for Atlanta is a simple tale: Finishing what you started.

By the numbers

Atlanta United had 26 total shots,15 inside the box (DC United had nine and seven). In an uncharacteristic showing, the home team had almost a 3:1 possession edge. The offense that ”Tata” Martino runs, the stat isn’t necessarily an indicator of success or failure. In Sunday’s case, it  showed more frustration in the midfield created by DC United’s defense and in transition fail to create chances as they had in previous matches.

Those chances, when they did come, just didn’t amount to a team doing what it has done all season long…score.

"“We made a lot of mistakes, individually, and as a team,” defender Tyrone Mears admitted after the match. “This can happen. The expectations have raised, definitely, for this club- which is a good thing. We want that. You can’t take anything for granted. And, I think, a lot of people were expecting DC to come to us… it’s a win for us. MLS is a difficult league and, certainly the Eastern Conference is improved I think from last season. For us, I think, sometimes you need that… a wake-up call because things have been going well for us.”"

Add to that the absence of midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, who was out for the match after injuries suffered in the win last week at Real Salt Lake, and the middle of the field, while Atlanta was on defense, was there for DC to take full advantage.

Next: USMNT: Two players who could join Yedlin in the EPL in 2017-18

Next up for Atlanta United is a tour to Yankee Stadium for a match against NYCFC next Sunday afternoon. Atlanta sits just two points back from NYCFC and will look to replicate DC’s impressive road performance this past weekend.