Atlanta earn first home win of season over winless Colorado

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:23 am

Julian Gressel scored in the 74th minute to give Atlanta United a 1-0 victory against winless Colorado at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday.

Brad Guzan made three saves for Atlanta (2-3-2), which won for the first time at home after a loss and two draws.

The Rapids (0-7-2) tied the 2012 Toronto FC (0-9-0) for the second longest winless streak to start the season in MLS history. Real Salt Lake was 0-5-6 in 2007.

Gressel's first goal of the season, after scoring four for the 2018 MLS Cup champions, was set up by Darlington Nagbe's dribble from 25 yards.

Nagbe slipped around two defenders on the left flank. He pushed the ball ahead and as it was about to cross the end line, he sent a pass to the near post. Gressel made a run between defenders Tommy Smith and Delkan Wynne and stuck out his right leg before goalkeeper Tim Howard could grab the ball, which hit the left post and went in.

Guzan earned his second shutout by stopping a header by Nicolas Mezquida in the 88th minute.

Colorado was able to absorb the Atlanta attack in the listless first half. United had 71.9 percent of possession and 204 more passes (336-132) but the result was that only one of five shots was on target. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez had an attempt from outside box that Howard easily saved in the 31st minute.

The Rapids did not have the ball much but did get two shots, both on goal, by Kellyn Acosta in the 12th and 33rd minutes.

Atlanta kept pressuring and in the 69th minute Josef Martinez missed by inches of getting on the end of a cross by Pity Martinez.

Rapids defender Sebastian Anderson, from a homegrown player from Highlands Ranch, Colo., became the youngest player to debut for the team at age 16.

Colorado hosts Vancouver on Friday. Atlanta plays at Sporting Kansas City on May 5.