Atlanta, Chicago Battle to Scoreless Draw

You’ve just settled in with your gameday snacks and your lucky Atlanta United jersey, ready to cheer on the Five Stripes against Chicago Fire. But 90 minutes later, you’re scratching your head wondering how this intense matchup ended in a 0-0 draw. Both teams had their chances, but stellar goalkeeping and some near misses left the scoreline blank. Stick with me as we break down the key moments and turning points in this hard-fought road battle for Atlanta. Though they couldn’t find the winner, there were plenty of positives to build on as the team looks ahead to Saturday’s home match against Minnesota.

Key Moments in the Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire Scoreless Draw

Almada Rattles Crossbar

In the 79th minute, Atlanta’s best chance of the match rattled off the crossbar. After a beautiful team move, Edwin Mosquera cut a cross back to Thiago Almada 11 yards from goal. The Argentine’s first touch bounced the ball up and he volleyed a shot off the crossbar with his next touch.

Brady Denies Ríos

Atlanta had another dangerous chance in the 85th minute when Almada floated a cross to the back post which met Daniel Ríos for a point-blank header that was swatted away by Chris Brady to keep the match scoreless.

Mueller’s Early Miss

Chicago had the first chance of the match in the eighth minute. Chris Mueller muscled his way down the right side and delivered a cross to Georgious Koutsias at the top of the six, but the striker volleyed his effort onto the crossbar.

Muyumba’s Wide Shot

Atlanta’s first opportunity came down its left side where Thiago Almada was played into space. His initial cross was blocked but fell right to Tristan Muyumba at the edge of the box. The French midfielder made a move around the defender and took a shot towards the far post, but his attempt went wide of the mark.

Wolff’s Disallowed Goal

Atlanta grew into the game and in the 24th minute they found the back of the net through Tyler Wolff, but the play was ruled offside. Brooks Lennon played Giorgos Giakoumakis in over the top, but the Greek striker was ruled offside by a narrow margin.

Lobjadnize’s Header Goes Wide

A couple of minutes later, Lennon delivered a cross to an open Saba Lobjadnize near the penalty spot and the Georgian’s header was forced wide by Chris Brady.

Standout Player Performances in the Match

Thiago Almada showed why Atlanta United was willing to shell out big money to acquire him this offseason. The young Argentine playmaker was brilliant pulling the strings in midfield and created several dangerous chances for his teammates. In the 79th minute, Almada nearly scored a stunning goal of his own. After a nice buildup, Edwin Mosquera cut a pass back to Almada 11 yards from goal. His first touch popped the ball up, but his volley off the bounce rattled the crossbar. Almada also delivered several dangerous free kicks and corners that Atlanta was unlucky not to convert.

While neither team was able to find the back of the net, standout performances from players like Almada, Brady and Morales demonstrate the depth of talent in MLS. Their battle within the match highlighted the key individual matchups that can shape the outcome of games.

What This Result Means for Atlanta Going Forward

A draw against a struggling Chicago side is disappointing, especially considering Atlanta had multiple chances to find a winner. However, there are a few silver linings. The defense held strong and earned a clean sheet, their first in over a month. New signing Giorgos Giakoumakis made his debut and showed promise, unlucky to have a goal called back for offside.

Most importantly, this result shows Atlanta can grind out results even when not at their best. Earlier in the season, they may have dropped points in a game like this. Now, they’ve learned how to dig in and defend a result.

Going forward, Atlanta needs to translate more of their chances into goals. They’ve been struggling to finish and put teams away, with just 12 goals in 9 games. The attack has been inconsistent, at times looking unstoppable but then disappearing for long stretches.

To solidify their playoff position, Atlanta must start converting draws into wins, especially at home. They have a favorable schedule over the next month, with multiple winnable games. Picking up maximum points will be key to building momentum for the summer.

Coach Gonzalo Pineda will also want to see continued improvement in chemistry between Giakoumakis, Almada and the rest of the front line. Their link-up play was promising at times against Chicago, but the final ball was lacking. With more minutes together, this attack could become a force.

While not the flashiest result, a draw away to Chicago is a decent outcome for Atlanta.  The pieces are there, they just need to click into place. Atlanta will look to regroup and get back in the win column when they return home next weekend to host Minnesota United. Even though they dropped points in this one, Atlanta is still in good position in the Eastern Conference standings. The Five Stripes have shown they can grind out gritty results on the road against quality opponents like Chicago. If Atlanta’s attack can start clicking consistently again, this team will be tough to beat. The season is still young – sit back and enjoy the ride!