Atlanta United lost 3-2 to Toronto FC on Wednesday night after a back-and-forth affair that saw two penalty kicks in the final minutes. See what we learned.
Atlanta United lost to Toronto FC on Wednesday night in a wacky finish at BMO Field. After Toronto scored just thirty seconds into the match, Atlanta pulled level thanks to a Pity Martinez penalty kick in the 17th minute. Just a few minutes later, Julian Gressel found the back of the net in the middle of a scum in front of goal. Toronto pulled level a few minutes after that with an Alejandro Pozuelo header.
The match remained level until stoppage time of the second half. Toronto’s Richie Laryea was tripped by Florentin Pogba in the box and Toronto won a penalty. Pozuelo converted from the spot to take the lead. Atlanta got a chance to score on the ensuing kickoff, where Darlington Nagbe drew a foul from 30 yards out. Martinez lobbed the free kick into the box, where a Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez cross found the hand of a Toronto defender. After VAR, Atlanta was awarded a penalty kick.
Martinez stepped up to the spot but skied his attempt over the crossbar. Toronto walked away with the 3-2 win after going winless in eight straight matches. Wednesday’s match was Atlanta’s first MLS match in weeks and will play again on Montreal Impact at home on Saturday.
Here’s what we learned from Wednesday night’s disappointing loss.
3. The team missed Franco Escobar
Atlanta United tends to struggle without their starting right-back, Franco Escobar.
Atlanta United without Escobar: 0-3-2
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) June 27, 2019
Atlanta United with Escobar: 8-3-0
(league matches only)
Escobar missed Wednesday night’s match due to yellow card accumulation and Michael Parkhurst started in his place against Toronto. It wasn’t Parkhurst’s first time at right-back this season, but Toronto certainly exploited that side of the pitch throughout the night.
Toronto’s first goal came through the left side of the pitch. Parkhurst slide tackled a Toronto winger but his tackle wasn’t solid enough and the resultant cross led to the opening goal. Having Pity Martinez on that side of the pitch didn’t help either, as there was some poor defending in the first half.
Frank de Boer adjusted for this in the second half, allowing Martinez to stay further up the pitch as a second forward behind Brandon Vazquez while asking Julian Gressel to track back and put out any fires. The adjustment worked in the second half, but it left viewers wondering what might’ve been had Escobar played the match.