D.C. United kicked off its Leagues Cup 2024 scoring early and often in a six-goal thriller against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday. Both teams were bolstered by two-goal performances — with D.C. United’s Jared Stroud and Atlanta’s Daniel Rios each producing a brace.
Pushing forward and applying high pressure on the Atlanta United back line, D.C. forced Stian Gregerson into a misplaced pass back toward his goalkeeper, Josh Cohen, who could not clear it cleanly; Dominique Badji won it for Christian Benteke, who softly chipped it over and into the back of the net in the 4th minute.
The home team equalized 16 minutes later when a Brooks Lennon cross came in from the right side and Rios nodded it home.
D.C. roared back with Stroud’s two-piece just seven minutes apart.
Right before half time, Atlanta’s Saba Lobzhanidze pulled his team back within a goal.
In the 64th minute, Rios again found himself in scoring position and won a penalty, but D.C. goalkeeper Alex Bono saved a Bartosz Slisz spot kick.
Atlanta United continued pressuring, and won another penalty kick in the 81st minute, with Rios stepping up and sending it into the back of the net.
With all things even at full time, Leagues Cup rules mandate that the match be decided by a shootout — with the winning side securing an extra point in the Group Stage table.
Through the first two rounds, each side went save-for-save and goal-for-goal — extending the sudden death shootout to seven rounds. Bono once again faced Slisz, and once again he made the save to secure the win.
“Disappointing end result going into penalties, but I felt like we have enough in the second half to potentially win the game although a rough start,” said Atlanta interim head coach Rob Valentino. “Angry, really angry that they’re down in that situation, that’s inexcusable, there´s no reason to be in a position like that, in my opinion we should’ve never been in that spot, scoring goals is great, is awesome but the way we had to go out and work, we shouldn’t had to do that.”
Bono and Co.will look to take control of the group with a match against Santos Laguna on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass, while Atlanta United get a bye to regroup analyzing their rivals.
