Marcelino Moreno scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute to lift visiting Atlanta United to a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday in Washington.
Moreno and Josef Martinez each collected a goal and an assist and Brad Guzan made six saves for Atlanta United (6-6-9, 27 points), who have won four straight matches overall. Atlanta United also own a 5-1-0 all-time record against D.C. United.
Yordy Reyna scored in the 54th minute and Jon Kempin made two saves for D.C. United (8-10-3, 27 points), who have dropped three matches in a row. The club played without U.S. men’s national team member Paul Arriola (hamstring).
Moreno created space just outside the box before sending a shot across his body that sailed into the left corner of the net to give Atlanta United a 2-1 lead. The goal was Moreno’s team-leading seventh of the season.
Guzan made it stand up by making a diving save on Felipe in the 86th minute.
Atlanta United opened the scoring in the 25th minute after Moreno tucked a pass past D.C. United’s Julian Gressel to set up Martinez. The 2018 MLS MVP fended off defender Tony Alfaro before unleashing a shot that sailed past Kempin.
The goal was Martinez’s sixth of the season and fourth in his last five matches.
Atlanta attempted to double its advantage just before halftime only to be thwarted by a strong individual defensive play from Gressel. Ezequiel Barco deftly slid a centering feed to Martinez, however Gressel was able to run interference and derail the opportunity.
D.C. United picked up the intensity to begin the second half before forging a tie in the 54th minute.
Reyna, who entered the match to start the second half, sent a free kick into the top right corner of the net for his third goal of the season. The tally ended Atlanta United’s bid for a third straight shutout.
–Field Level Media