Atlanta United drops MLS season opener 2-0 to D.C. United

Atlanta United lost its first match of the 2019 MLS season 2-0 to D.C. United Sunday on a cold and rainy night at Audi Field.

Paul Arriola scored the game’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time, finding a loose ball in the box after a Wayne Rooney corner and smashing a close-range shot past Brad Guzan. Atlanta’s best effort in the first half came in the 40th minute when Tito Villalba struck a right-footed shot from about 25 yards out that swung just wide of the far post.

Luciano Acosta doubled D.C. United’s lead in the 58th minute, as the Argentine dribbled into space outside Atlanta’s penalty area and a drilled a low shot that skipped off the wet surface and beat Guzan. Atlanta made two substitutions immediately following the goal, bringing on Gonzalo Martínez and Julian Gressel for Tito Villalba and Mikey Ambrose. Jeff Larentowicz later replaced Ezequiel Barco in the 83rd minute.

Atlanta United returns to action Wednesday (10 p.m. EST, Yahoo Sports, Univision Deportes) in the first leg of its Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal tie at C.F. Monterrey.

MATCH INFO

Atlanta United 0, D.C. United 2

Audi Field

Washington D.C.

STATS

Shots: 17-9 D.C.

Shots on Target: 6-2 D.C.

Corner kicks: 7-3 D.C.

Fouls committed: 9-6 ATL

Clearances: 24-15 ATL

Offside: 2-1 ATL

Possession: 56-44 ATL

Passing Accuracy: 85-82 ATL

SCORING SUMMARY

DC – Paul Arriola 45+1’ (Luciano Acosta, Wayne Rooney)

ATL – Luciano Acosta 58’ (Lucas Rodríguez, Junior Moreno)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL – Mikey Ambrose 53’ (yellow)

ATL – Jeff Larentowicz 83’ (yellow)

 

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan; Leandro González Pirez, Michael Parkhurst ©, Miles Robinson; Brek Shea, Darlington Nagbe, Eric Remedi, Mikey Ambrose (Julian Gressel 59’); Ezequiel Barco (Jeff Larentowicz 77’), Josef Martinez, Tito Villalba (Gonzalo Martínez 59’)

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Gordon Wild, Andrew Carleton, Romario Williams.

D.C. UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Bill Hamid: Leonardo Jara, Frédéric Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora; Russell Canouse, Luciano Acosta (Chris Durkin 88’) , Junior Moreno; Paul Arriola, Wayne Rooney, Lucas Rodríguez (Ulises Segura 67’)

Substitutes not used: Chris Seitz, Jalen Robinson, Zoltan Stieber, Quincy Amarikwa, Chris McCann

OFFICIALS

Jair Marrufo (referee), Frank Anderson (assistant), Jeffrey Greeson (assistant), Marcos de Oliveira (fourth), Alan Kelly (VAR), Thomas Supple (assistant VAR)

TEAM NOTES

• Mikey Ambrose made his 15th career MLS start and 22nd appearance.
• Gonzalo Martínez and Brek Shea made their Atlanta United MLS debuts.
• Jeff Larentowicz made his 392nd MLS appearance, tied for third-most all time.
• Atlanta is 0-4 in matches at D.C. United.