 |
Posted by
,
March 18, 2018 |
 |
Twitter
@HarJournalist
|
| |
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Vancouver Whitecaps FC went down to Georgia looking to continue their unbeaten streak against Atlanta United FC. Vancouver's perfect start to the season did not continue as Atlanta turned up with a convincing 4-1 win in front of 45,003 spectators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Josef Martinez lead Atlanta United FC from start to finish with his fourth career MLS hat-trick. Erik Hurtado's tally broke Brad Guzan's attempt of a clean-sheet. Atlanta improves to 2-1-0 on the season. Vancouver suffers their first defeat of the season and sit on a 2-1-0 record.
Moments of the Match
The match turned on its head after a controversial red card, and subsequent penalty in the 13' minute. Referee Ismail Elfath went to VAR to take another look at contact between Kendall Waston, and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. Upon review, Elfath issued a straight red card to Waston, and a penalty kick for Atlanta. Martinez stepped up, and sent Stefan Marinovic the wrong way to put Atlanta up 1-0.
From Carl Robinson:
"Shocking. Absolutely shocking. A shocking decision. For us to play down, or play 11 men against 11 in Atlanta is very difficult, we knew that. We had a game plan going into the game that was totally affected after five minutes. I think it took five minutes for the referees to try and overturn the decision. I get told that it has to be clear and obvious, clearly, it wasn’t. I agree with what most people have told me after the game and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It had a major impact on the game and unfortunately then it was an uphill battle for us, and we weren’t good enough to play 10 men against 11. Credit to them because they scored the goals, but it was a massive influence on the game which was a really poor decision."
From Kendall Waston
"Disappointed. To be honest, I don’t feel that it was a red card. My eyes were only on the ball and (Tito) Villalba was behind me, but what can I say? I cannot avoid the red card right now. I was really upset because I did not think I deserved that red card."
Robinson on if he was given an explanation on the red card:
"No. Three times, I think, I have had the same referee, and each time we have gone down to 10 men. I’m better off not probably talking to him. I’ll speak to Howard Webb because there’s a number of things I felt went against us. Even the yellow card situation with one or two of their guys, smart tactical decisions, substitutions from them and credit to them. I’ll speak to them next week, but it’s not acceptable."
Despite having to play the next 77' minutes with only 10 men. Whitecaps FC responded by staying composed, structured, and focused. Atlanta had numerous first half scoring opportunities to blow the match wide open with offensive build up. However, they could not finish in the final third, thus allowing the visitors to stay within striking distance.
Robinson on how Vancouver responded after the red card:
"They didn’t give up. It is not easy to come here. They had a great result last week. My disappointment was the 42,000 coming, they will be happy that they got the win, of course, three points, but they didn’t see a proper game of football. It was affected by someone who didn’t need to affect the game. That’s a disappointing thing because we are always trying to grow this game in America and Canada. It should be about the teams and the players. (Josef Martinez) scores a hat trick today, and credit to him, but it will be overshadowed by the one decision which was wrong."
Leave it to Whitecaps FC to help out Atlanta in the scoring department with an own goal. Atlanta caught a break in the 58' minute as a Julian Gressel's cross into the Caps box deflected off Alphonso Davies before being wrong-footed into the Vancouver net by centre-back Aaron Maund. Atlanta doubled their lead thanks to some generosity.
The floodgates quickly opened and Atlanta struck again two minutes later. Whitecaps FC were caught up the pitch, and Atlanta United FC was quick on the counter to punish the visitors. Miguel Almiron sent Martinez off to the races 1 v 1 with Marinovic. The Venezuelan international slotted the ball past the Caps keeper for a brace, and a 3-0 lead.
Whitecaps FC were looking to finish the match with a positive note, and they scored in the 85' minute to break Brad Guzan's clean-sheet bid. In his first career MLS start, Jordon Mutch send Erik Hurtado through the Atlanta back-line. The veteran Caps striker scored his first of the season to cut the lead to 3-1.
The shift of momentum wasn't about to last long as Atlanta quickly answered with another brilliant goal from superstar striker, Josef Martinez. 17 year-old homegrown product, Andrew Carleton sent a brilliant curling cross to the back far post. Martinez was able to leap up above and smash home a header past Marinovic to put Atlanta up 4-1.
Robinson on Erik Hurtado scoring:
"I’m disappointed for the players in there, because when you put in that amount of work and it is affected by a bad decision, then you are obviously disappointed. But Erik (Hurtado) coming on as a sub, same as Brek Shea coming on and Yordy (Reyna), I changed it because the work they put in the first 45 minutes with 10 minutes was very hard. They are a good possession team. We know that. They have players in key areas that can score goals, which they showed. Sometimes, you have to take one on the chin. Today, we have to take one on the chin. A little bit unjustly, I believe. A little bit unfairly, but it won’t affect us. We will regroup. We will come back next week. We have a big home game in front of our passionate supporters, and hopefully, they can have the influence that these guys here had today and credit to all of their fans here."
Man of the Match
Josef Martinez was a one man wrecking crew as he buried his chances and helped Atlanta cruise to a 4-1 victory over Vancouver. Martinez hasn't slowed down in his sophomore season. His 4th tally of the season is a sign that he's just as motivated and hungry to help carry Atlanta United FC this season.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting XI: Stefan Marinovic; Aaron Maund, Kendall Waston(C), Jose Aja; Alphonso Davies, Jordon Mutch, Felipe, Efrain Juarez, 67 (Yordy Reyna), Jake Nerwinski; Nicolas Mezquida, 45 (Brek Shea); Anthony Blondell, 55 (Erik Hurtado). 3-5-2
Atlanta United Starting XI: Brad Guzan; Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Michael Parkhurst(C), Franco Escobar; Chris McCann, Jeff Larentowicz, 60 (Kevin Kratz), Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel, Miguel Almiron, 77 (Andrew Carleton); Josef Martinez, 90 (Romario Wiliams), Hector Villalba; 3-5-2
|