Atlanta United battles to scoreless draw

“We wanted to win two consecutive matches at home, so to get four points out of three home matches for me is not as many as we wanted,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “Now we have 15 days off. We know we have things to work on, but we’re still moving forward.”

Neither team was able to gain enough momentum for the win. It’s possible the new grass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium added to that disjointed play. Multiple players from both sides appeared to lose footing throughout the game.

The stadium recently installed grass as opposed to artificial turf ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, where Atlanta will host eight games, including a semifinal match.

Defender Stian Gregersen said there isn’t a problem with the field, but it was a little slippery in the end.

“For me, the field was fine,” United captain Miguel Almirón said. “I like playing on it. We just need to use the right cleats.”

Almirón said iron-tipped cleats are needed for playing on this terrain. The postgame locker room was riddled with grass, as staff clapped boots together to release the grassy buildup.

Despite not creating a viable attack, Atlanta dominated the time of possession in the first half with 66%, but the Five Stripes couldn’t convert that into a score. Atlanta United recorded four shots and two on goal in the first 45 minutes, though with just 0.12 expected goals.

The second half carried a similar trend, as Atlanta finished with a 71% advantage in time of possession and seven shots, including three on goal. Though the biggest opportunity came from the D.C. side in the 83rd minute off a shot from midfielder Caden Clark, whose strike emphatically hit the right crossbar.

If the attempt was just an inch to the left it would have reached the back of the net past Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos’ outstretched hand.

D.C. United (2-2-1) looked poised in its defensive third, thwarting multiple Atlanta attacks. D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson finished with three saves. Both keepers finished with a clean sheet. It was Hoyos’ first for Atlanta after he earned the starting position upon legendary keeper Brad Guzan’s retirement last season.

“A clean sheet is good, but we would have preferred to win the game,” Martino said.

Martino used all five substitutions in the second half. First, he added Steven Alzate and Saba Lobjanidze for Matias Galarza and Cooper Sanchez in the midfield. Then, Elias Baez came in for Pedro Amador in the backfield, and winger Alexey Miranchuk replaced Fafa Picault

Still, the changes did not bring enough energy to get Atlanta United on the board. Galarza had two shots on goal, and Sanchez recorded one before heading to the bench.

Martino rolled out the same starting lineup from the win against Philadelphia. Defender Juan Berrocal was unavailable for the second straight week with a hamstring injury. Stian Gregersen got the nod, his 50th start for Atlanta United. Atlanta’s 2026 goal leader, Miranchuk, also earned start No. 50 with the club.

Atlanta United will be back in action April 4 at home vs. the Columbus Crew when MLS play resumes after the international break. Meanwhile, the U.S. men’s national team will take over Mercedes-Benz Stadium with friendlies against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup.

“We have to take away the positives,” Almirón said. “I think this team is putting in a lot of effort. We let two points escape from this game, but now we have to just continue working and think ahead to our next important match against Columbus.”