The game in 100 words (or more): It’s going to be a long, long, long season for Minnesota United if head coach Adrian Heath doesn’t find a fix for the Loons’ terrible, disastrous, atrocious backline — and fast. What more needs to be said?
Minnesota United is the first team to allow five goals in consecutive @MLS games. #MINvATL
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 12, 2017
They did it in their first two games. Having been throttled by the Portland Timbers on their MLS debut a week ago, Minnesota suffered yet another embarrassing defeat on Sunday, this time by the final score of 6-1, at the hands of fellow expansion side Atlanta United. Josef Martinez bagged his first three MLS goals, a hat trick on the snowy afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota, while Miguel Almiron, Atlanta’s 23-year-old, $8-million Designated Player signing, notched a brace of his own. For the non-math majors among us, 11 goals conceded in 180 minutes works out to a goal conceded every 16 minutes, 27 seconds.
[ MORE: Saturday’s MLS (afternoon) roundup | Late-night ]
Three moments that mattered
3' — Martinez skates past everyone, makes it 1-0 — 93 minutes minutes into Minnesota’s MLS tenure, a theme emerges.
Talk about a quick start.@ATLUTD take an early lead in Minnesota courtesy of @JosefMartinez17. #MINvATL https://t.co/sJoAX14cdO
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2017
13' — Almiron does the same for 2-0 — Said theme recurs with alarmingly regularity.
52' — Almiron smashes on the volley for 4-1 — Having pulled themselves back to 3-1 before halftime, the next goal was always going to determine this game’s direction. It went Atlanta’s way, surprisingly.
What a hit, Miguel Almirón! #MINvATL@ATLUTD leads 4-1 in Minnesota https://t.co/RomnSnjBGk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2017
[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s MLS coverage | Standings | Stats | Schedule ]
Men of the match: Josef Martinez
Goalscorers: Martinez (3', 27', 75'), Almiron (13', 52'), Peterson (90+3')
