DC and Atlanta Unite for Mock Shootout 0-0

DC United 0-0 Atlanta United

WASHINGTON, DC–DC United has spent their time since the World Cup break finding ways to miss the goal. On Saturday, they were greatly outperformed in the exercise of futility by Atlanta United. Although DC’s Tai Baribo did his best to miss a tricky header, he was outshone by a myriad of Atlanta players led clearly by Mauricio Almiron.

Solid efforts by Lucas Bartlett and Kye Rowles stifled Atlanta’s sturdy Breel Embolo thanks to his managing a few whiffs of his own. Sean Johnson provided his usual vital goal prevention against all comers.

As the game wore down, DC’s favored 4-4-2 formation grew tighter and tighter forming a moderately effective bus. As the battle of the ineffectives continued, DC United’s coach, Rene Weiler opted for several changes with various objectives.

In the 82^nd minute, he chose to send in Nikola Markovic for Andre Dozzell, a move seeming to bolster defense, only to use Hosei Kijima in the 89^th minute for a flagging Louis Munteanu. Kijima is a frequent late substitute for Weiler as he brings aggressive energy to take on a fading opponent.

In the 56^th minute Weiler made his, now customary, midfield switch, this time bringing in Matti Peltola for Brandon Servania, a slight change in control philosophy. Servania brings a busy style focused on breaking up the opponent’s rhythm while Peltola is more of a central general, providing outlet and transition to attack.

A triple change at the same time emphasized attack as defender Silvan Hefti yielded to Jackson Hopkins, a versatile youngster who plays from midfield to attack. Replacing Nathan Ordaz with Jared Stroud was a neutral move of like to like. In addition to rotating players to allow for fresh legs, the triple substitution was Weiler’s first shot at trying to break the pattern of futility.

Simply put, Weiler went from control/attack, to defense to preserve a tie, to a last ditch shot with Kijima who did provide a late challenge to Atlanta. The coach continues to cast about seeking a way to improve results.

He did admit that, “It wasn’t better after the changes.” Conceding that the team worked hard for each other despite being outplayed all night, he highlighted the reward for their efforts, “At the end, they fighted, they got out with a clean sheet, and the result is a good result.”

Since the return of Baribo and Kai Rowles from injury the expected improvement in offensive results has not come to pass. Baribo is making the insightful runs but is not being rewarded with the service he needs. Weiler believes, “He’s a scorer who needs not a lot of goal scoring chances to score a goal.” The coach is happy that, “He’s in our team and not in another team.”

The team moves on to play Charlotte this Saturday at Audi field seeking the breakout they need, hoping that Baribo or attention to him enabling some other attacker to score will open the floodgates.

The rescheduled away game against Cincinnati will be on October 21^st, with a three-day gap until the two meet at Audi on the 24^th. Until then, DC will hold that extra card in hopes that it will still be relevant in the playoff race.