Atlanta United fell 2-1 on the road to New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena Thursday night. Josef Martínez scored his fourth goal of the season after coming on as a substitute in the second half, however, a pair of late goals from New York gave the three points to the home side.
Atlanta scored the opening goal in the 75th minute from Martínez. The attack began when Luiz Araújo played a through ball that found Caleb Wiley on the left side of the box. The 17-year-old sent a cross into the box where Aiden McFadden headed the ball back across the six-yard box. Emerson Hyndman directed an effort toward goal that was blocked by a Red Bulls defender but Martínez reacted first to the loose ball and touched it into the net.
New York was awarded a penalty after Luquinhas was taken down by Wiley near the end line. Lewis Morgan stepped up and sent his kick down the middle of the goal to even the match in the 83rd minute. New York then scored the winning goal in the 89th minute as Serge Ngoma forced a turnover in Atlanta’s defensive third and slid his shot past Rocco Ríos Novo on a breakaway.
Atlanta maintained 62.5 percent of the possession in the first half while each team put one shot on target, unable to find a breakthrough as the teams entered halftime scoreless. Atlanta created its first opportunity in the 28th minute when Ronaldo Cisneros chased down a long ball played over the top of the Red Bulls’ defense but hit the ball over the crossbar.
Atlanta played through New York’s pressure, connecting 85 percent of its passes in the first half, and created a pair of chances through Araújo. In the 32nd minute, Matheus Rossetto, wearing the captain’s armband, carried the ball across midfield before passing it ahead to a streaking Araújo on the left side. The Brazilian winger beat his defender and hit a hard shot on goal that Carlos Coronel tipped over the bar. Arauj́o continued to put pressure on New York’s backline and had another chance in first-half stoppage-time, dribbling past a defender into the box before cutting back to his right foot and striking a shot just wide of the post.
Atlanta returns to action Sunday, July 3 when it visits New York City FC at Yankee Stadium (5 p.m. EST, Bally Sports South, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor).
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of ATL UTD