Atlanta United fell 1-0 to Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Soldier Field. The five stripes were hoping to add another “W” to the win column after tallying a win, a loss, and a draw across their last three matches, but the Fire had other ideas, winning their third straight match and earning a clean sheet.
After an even first 10 minutes of the match, Chicago scored the opening goal in the 13th minute through Maren Haile-Selassie. Philip Zinckernagel dribbled the ball into the right side of the box and delivered a cross to Jonathan Bamba in the center. The Ivorian quickly laid it off to Haile-Selassie, who tucked it into the right corner of the goal.
Atlanta responded immediately with a pair of chances, first from a Tomás Jacob header that nearly found the top-left corner of the goal but hit the outside of the post. In the 17th minute, Saba Lobjanidze collected a cross on the right side of the box and lobbed the ball back across goal. Stian Gregersen attacked the cross and directed a header on target that was cleared off the line by Chicago’s Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
Atlanta continued to put pressure on Chicago and had another opportunity to level the match in the 31st minute. Elías Báez dribbled toward the end line before playing a cut back to Latte Lath at the edge of the six-yard box. To his chagrin, the striker’s volley attempt went wide.
Chicago had two shot attempts that hit the woodwork in the 39th and 40th minutes. Former five stripe Andrew Gutman’s free header off an Anton Saletros cross struck the right post before Bamba directed an attempt off the crossbar a minute later.
Atlanta had an opportunity to level the match in the final minute of stoppage time as Almirón and Cayman Togashi each tried to direct a loose ball in the box on target, but each attempt from close range was saved or blocked.
Tonight makes a fifth loss for Atlanta United on the season, and the struggle for goals continues. Assistant Coach Rodrigo Ríos spoke on the positives to take away from tonight.
“The first 20-25 minutes, they were really good. We created a couple of chances that we couldn’t take advantage of,” stated Ríos after the match. “In the second half, we were able to circulate the ball, but we rushed a little bit in those finishing actions.”
Atlanta United (1-5-1, 4 points) returns to action Wednesday, April 15, when it travels to take on Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (7:30 p.m. ET, Paramount+, 92.9 The Game).
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of Atlanta United