Atlanta United will try to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games on Wednesday when they host New York City FC, who haven’t won a game in nearly two months.
Atlanta (7-4-7, 28 points) is coming off a 3-1 win over visiting D.C. United on Saturday, breaking a string of four straight ties and improving to 2-0-4 since a 3-1 loss to Charlotte FC on May 13.
The Five Stripes took control in the second half against D.C. United. With the game tied at a goal apiece, Andrew Gutman gave Atlanta the lead for good in the 49th minute before Tyler Wolff secured the victory in the 73rd.
“This group deserved to win for sure,” Atlanta midfielder Ajani Fortune said. “We’ve played really well in the last few games, and I think to walk away with some ties and losses late in games is unfair to the way we play. I think a win tonight before the break is huge.”
Atlanta is led by Giorgos Giakoumakis, whose first-half goal against D.C. United was his 10th of the season, tying him for second in the league. Thiago Almada has a league-leading nine assists for Atlanta, while his seven goals rank second on the team and tied for 11th in MLS.
NYCFC (4-7-7, 19 points) have tied their past three games after scoring an equalizer in the final minutes of a 1-1 draw against the visiting Columbus Crew on Saturday.
NYCFC are 0-5-4 in their past nine league matches since their last win, a 3-1 victory over visiting FC Dallas on April 22. NYCFC also fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup during that stretch.
New York City appeared headed toward defeat before Gabriel Segal pulled his team level 1-1 in the fourth minute of stoppage time. It was their first goal since Braian Cufre’s tally in the 64th minute of a 3-1 loss to FC Cincinnati on May 31.
NYCFC outshot the Crew 13-9 but put just five of their attempts on target.
“It doesn’t feel like a win because it’s a draw at home,” NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said. “We are used to, in past years, being strong at home. And the aim for us and the desire is to be that team. We are on the right path, I believe. The performance is enough to win, but there are elements we have to improve.”
Santiago Rodriguez and Gabriel Pereira each have a team-high four goals and Richard Ledezma has a team-leading four assists for NYCFC, who are winless in nine (0-5-4) road games this season.
–Field Level Media
