Atlanta United Falls 1-0 to Los Angeles FC

May 25, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release

Atlanta United’s Stian Gregersen on the field
(Atlanta United FC)

ATLANTA – Atlanta United fell 1-0 to Los Angeles FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. LAFC scored in the second half immediately following a red card shown to Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Despite a strong offensive effort after the red card, including out-shooting LAFC 12-3 in the second half, Atlanta’s comeback ultimately fell short.

Atlanta came out energized and put its first shot on goal in the seventh minute when Xande Silva took aim from distance, but LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a comfortable save. Atlanta nearly took the lead in the 35th minute after a quality build up down the right side. Saba Lobjanidze slipped a pass to Brooks Lennon near end line where he cut the ball back for Daniel Ríos inside the six-yard box. Ríos fired a shot from a tight angle, but pulled it wide of the far post.

Guzan was sent off in the 60th minute after he was ruled to have denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity to LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz. Guzan came off his line to make a play on a 50-50 ball just outside the penalty area, heading the ball into the face of Bogusz. The Polish midfielder fell to ground, but was clipped by the leg of Guzan. Following a VAR review, Atlanta’s captain was shown a red card for a foul on Bogusz. Josh Cohen subsequently entered the match to make his MLS Regular Season debut.

Bogusz took the ensuing free kick which took a deflection off the wall, redirecting into the right side of goal as Cohen dove to the left side and LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute.

Despite playing down a man, Atlanta relentlessly pursued an equalizer. After checking into the match following the red card, Thiago Almada provided an instant spark. In the 66th minute, he dribbled through LAFC’s defense and ripped a left-footed shot that narrowly missed wide of the right upright. Two minutes later, Lobjanidze connected with Jamal Thiare on a cross from the right side to the back post, but his header struck the side netting. Less than a minute after, Lobjanidze found himself in a prime scoring position inside the box, but was denied by Lloris from close range.

With momentum building, Atlanta forced LAFC’s Eduard Atuesta into his second yellow card of the match in the 81st minute when he brought down Almada on the edge of the 18-yard box. Atlanta fought for the match-leveling goal until the end, and nearly found it in the…