ATLANTA — Atlanta United defeated New York Red Bulls 1-0 Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 43,511 fans.
Giorgos Giakoumakis netted the game-winner early in the first half while the Atlanta defense produced its second clean sheet of the season in a physical match that saw 10 yellow cards shown. The result marked Atlanta United’s first regular season win against the Red Bulls and put Atlanta in second place in the Eastern Conference table.
Atlanta grabbed an early lead in the seventh minute as four players who returned from international duty combined to produce the game’s opening goal. From Atlanta’s defensive third, Miles Robinson played a long ball diagonally to Derrick Etienne Jr. on the left side. The winger found Thiago Almada on the edge of the penalty area where he ripped a shot from distance aimed at the far post, which goalkeeper Carlos Coronel spilled in front of goal. Giakoumakis was ready on the doorstep and slammed in his second goal of the season.
It proved to be a frantic first half with six yellow cards, several hard challenges and multiple delays due to injuries. Two minutes after Atlanta took the lead, Brad Guzan was cleared out right in front of his goal by a hard challenge from Red Bulls forward Corey Burke, resulting in the game’s first yellow. Another contentious play occurred moments later in the 16th minute. Guzan played a goal kick the length of the field intended for Almada. Coronel came off his line to intercept it outside of the box but misjudged the flight of the ball and Almada looked to be in on goal as it bounced over the goalkeeper’s head. With Almada behind Coronel, the goalkeeper made contact with the Argentine as he went to ground, but no foul was called on the play.
In the 34th minute, Luiz Araújo was dribbling towards goal with a pair of defenders chasing him down. Contact was made as Araújo fell to the field, but again no foul was called, and the Brazilian was shown a yellow card for dissent. Tempers continued to flare as three yellows were shown during first-half stoppage time.
Atlanta produced several prime chances to extend its lead late in the second half. In the 74th minute, Araújo found Brooks Lennon making an overlapping run towards the endline. Lennon cut the ball back for Matheus Rossetto in the center of the box, but his one-time shot raced just over crossbar. Five minutes later, Almada found Araújo in space on the right side where he dribbled to the endline and centered a low cross for Giakoumakis, but his attempt also crept narrowly over the bar. In the game’s final play, Atlanta produced a threatening counterattack which saw Almada deliver a cross from the left side and found Rossetto alone at the back post, but Coronel was able deny the point-blank shot.
Atlanta United returns to action when it travels to face New York City FC April 8 at Yankee Stadium
