Daniel Edelman Wears the Armband, But Draw Leaves a Bitter Taste for Atlanta United

Soccer can make you scream with joy and then crush your hopes in the blink of an eye. If you're an Atlanta United fan, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The recent clash against the New York Red Bulls was a rollercoaster of emotions, but not the kind where you get off smiling. A 2-2 draw at Red Bull Arena might seem like a decent result, but for a team that desperately needs wins to stay in the playoff hunt, it’s like biting into a shiny apple only to find a worm inside.

Atlanta United came into this match with fire in their eyes, fully aware that every point is crucial as Decision Day looms—the last MLS round that decides many teams' fates. The problem? They’re buried in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings, and this draw did little to lift them out of the hole. On the other hand, the New York Red Bulls are sitting pretty, flirting with a playoff spot that guarantees home-field advantage. And guess what? Even with the draw, they walked away as the real winners of the night.

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Now, don’t get me wrong. Atlanta fought. They fought tooth and nail, like a boxer on the ropes who refuses to go down. But at the end of the day, that draw tasted a lot like a loss. And that’s because, for a brief and glorious moment, it looked like they had secured the win. Edwin Mosquera, a name not many fans had tattooed on their arm, came off the bench and, in a flash of magic, sent a stunning shot into the back of the net, silencing Red Bull Arena with what felt like the game-winner. A curving strike, precise, and full of swagger that even the most die-hard Red Bulls fan couldn’t deny.

But Atlanta United can’t seem to keep the party going for long. Just minutes after Mosquera’s goal, Elias Manoel, who had missed a penalty earlier, decided to make up for his mistake. In a Hollywood-style moment of redemption, Manoel rose higher than everyone else and, with a killer header, tied the game. It was the end of Atlanta’s joy. Sure, it wasn’t a total disaster, but losing a victory so close to the final whistle is the kind of thing that can crush a team’s morale.

And what’s worse is that Atlanta’s defense had actually held up pretty well, considering the Red Bulls were in full “war machine” mode from the first whistle. They fired off 21 shots in total—a downpour of attempts. But there was Brad Guzan, Atlanta’s veteran goalkeeper, standing tall like a wall. He made eight saves that kept things from turning into an outright disaster. There was even one moment when he saved with his foot after a crazy deflection, showing that even at 39, he’s still got what it takes to put on a show between the sticks.

But if the defense had its moments of brilliance, the offense was a complete mystery. It’s like Atlanta doesn’t know what it wants to be. One minute, they’re trying to play attacking soccer, and the next, they’re sitting back, letting the pressure build. With only four games left in the regular season, there’s no more time for experiments. The feeling is that the team’s stuck in some tactical limbo, where no strategy seems to work quite right.

The five-at-the-back formation that interim coach Rob Valentino rolled out looked solid on paper. The idea was clear: close down space and withstand the relentless Red Bulls pressure. But then came the second half, and things started to fall apart. Atlanta made substitutions, changed the setup, and honestly, at times, it looked like they didn’t know how to handle the Red Bulls' constant barrage. No wonder New York managed to get off 21 shots in the match.

Now, speaking of the Red Bulls, we have to talk about Daniel Edelman. The kid, just 20 years old, wore the captain’s armband for the first time, and he stepped up. If there’s one thing that shines in games like this, it’s a young player’s ability to lead with a cool head. Edelman, hailing from Warren, New Jersey, showed that the future of American soccer might just be in those smart plays and key moments when he knows exactly how to position the team. The guy didn’t flinch once, and his performance was crucial in helping the Red Bulls secure a point at home.

Atlanta United has never won at Red Bull Arena. We’re talking about a seven-game stretch with five losses and two draws. If that doesn’t mess with the players’ heads, I don’t know what will. It’s like walking into a haunted house knowing that somehow, you’re always gonna come out defeated.

Well, if you’re an Atlanta fan, brace yourself for more high-stakes drama. Their next challenge is against the Philadelphia Union, away from home, and the team needs to pull off some magic to turn things around. They’re on the brink of elimination, and every game from now on is a final. There’s no more room for mistakes, no more “heroic” draws. It’s win or win.

As for the Red Bulls, they’re sitting pretty. This draw solidified their place at the top, and they’re in a great position to lock down home-field advantage for the playoffs—something that could be a game-changer in a league as tight as MLS.