ATLANTA — Atlanta United played to a 0-0 draw against New York Red Bulls Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of a crowd of 42,575.
Brad Guzan made four saves to post his third clean sheet of the regular season as the club extended its home unbeaten streak in league play to five matches.
Both sides took time to settle into the match, but the action picked up as the first half drew to a close. Guzan made a big save in the 39th minute after a turnover on the edge of Atlanta’s own penalty area. Wikelman Carmona found Patryk Klimala running into the box where he one-timed a low shot on goal. Guzan blocked the initial shot, though it continued rolling past him and he pounced on the loose ball just before it crossed the line. Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres had a good look at goal during stoppage time when he headed a Brooks Lennon cross just wide of the far post.
Guzan made another crucial save in the 68th minute when Kyle Duncan got off a left-footed shot from 12 yards out, however the veteran goalkeeper stood tall and blocked it off his chest.
Atlanta United took over the match late and pushed for the breakthrough goal. In the 78th minute substitute Jake Mulraney beat a pair of defenders, picking up a nutmeg in the process, and sent in a teasing cross to the back post that was just beyond Torres. Marcelino Moreno collected the ball and quickly found Lennon on the right side of penalty area where he ripped a shot on frame, but Carlos Coronel was able to deny him.
In the 83rd minute Ezequiel Barco played a ball out to Mulraney on the left side where he crossed it into Moreno. The Argentine midfielder got tied up with a trio of New York defenders and fell to the ground. Still fighting, Moreno swung his right boot around the ball while on the ground and forced Coronel to come up with another critical save.
Atlanta United created its best chance to take the lead in the 89th minute. Lennon delivered a cross to the center of the box where Miles Robinson rose high above the defense to smash a header toward goal, but it clanged off the left post and was cleared away.
Atlanta (2-2-6, 12 points) returns to action Saturday, July 3 against Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field (8:00 p.m. ET, Bally Sports South, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
