Atlanta United Vs Philadelphia Union: Winners and losers – Five Stripes stumble again

Atlanta United’s early-season hiccups continued on Sunday as they came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to the Philadelphia Union. Here are the major winners and losers.

Atlanta United should have been going into Sunday’s match against the Philadelphia Union on a high from their morale-boosting 1-0 win over Monterrey during the week, even if that meant that exiting the CONCACAF Champions League. But instead, they looked flat, tired and lethargic, failing to register a single shot on target during the first half.

They then found themselves 1-0 down just after the interval courtesy of a debut goal for 18-year-old midfielder, Brenden Aaronson, whose low shot deflected off Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and into the bottom corner of Brad Guzan’s net.

That goal finally sparked a little bit of life into Frank de Boer’s side and they managed to get themselves level once the Dutchman introduced Ezequiel Barco, with the Argentinian tyro heading home in the 70th minute. Atlanta toiled for a winner after that, but the Union held out to take their first point of the new MLS season at the third attempt.

So, who were the major winners and losers from Sunday’s encounter? Read on to find out.

Winner – Brenden Aaronson

Welcome to MLS, Brenden Aaronson.

You can say what you want about Atlanta’s passive defending — or even more passive attack — but you can’t take anything away from the way this 18-year-old ghosted past the Five Stripes’ right-hand side, cutting inside and firing a low shot into Brad Guzan’s bottom-right corner, with a little help from a Leandro Gonzalez Pirez deflection.

Aaronson showed guile and movement way beyond his years at the tip of the Union midfield diamond on Sunday, despite being born post-millennium. He could prove to be a useful attacking weapon in a Union side that had just one goal in two games this season before their trip to Atlanta.