Atlanta United played Santos Laguna to a 0-0 draw in its second Leagues Cup Group Stage match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday afternoon. Santos Laguna won the penalty shootout 5-3 to claim the extra point and win the head-to-head tiebreaker to put them through to the knockout stage.
The first half of the match was largely quiet for both sides, though Atlanta was able to create a handful of opportunities in the final third. Saba Lobjanidze carved out the most dangerous chance for either team in the 14th minute after going directly for goal off a free kick on the left flank, but Santos’ Carlos Acevedo knocked his opportunity out for a corner. Later in the 40th minute, Xande Silva cut in from the left side before launching a long-ranged shot from 30-yards out heading towards the bottom right corner, however, his strike was deflected and saved by the keeper.
Neither side was successful in breaking through in the final 45 minutes. Santos Laguna’s best opportunity of the half came from Ramiro Sordo in the 52nd minute after the winger cut back from his defender outside the penalty area to get off a left-footed shot but Atlanta keeper Josh Cohen dove to punch his attempt away. The 5-Stripes had a chance in the 72nd minute after midfielder Edwin Mosquera entered the match to flick a cross into the box that met the head of an unmarked Lobjanidze, but his shot was saved up the middle by the Santos goalkeeper.
The contest ended in a scoreless draw through 90 minutes, which led to a penalty shootout to determine which club would receive the extra point and move on to the knockout stage of Leagues Cup. Each side traded successful attempts until Atlanta’s Jamal Thiaré stepped up as the fourth penalty taker and had his shot saved as he sent it to the bottom right.
[Atlanta’s Bartosz Slisz on improving over the break]: “Refresh our mindset, because it was a tough moment, but now we have three weeks. Then off to the next game. We have to prepare very good, because we still have nine games in the league. We’re going to fight until the end for the playoffs. I swear that we’re going to give everything to play these playoffs, and it will be our target.”
Atlanta United returns to MLS regular season play on Sunday, Aug. 24 when it travels to take on LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.