Player ratings from Atlanta United’s thrilling 3-2 win over D.C. United

Player Ratings

GK Brad Guzan 8: In recent ratings, I’ve glossed over Guzan despite clean sheets for the team. Saturday, DC scored two stunning goals that Guz had little chance to stop, but he saved the team’s bacon late in the first half y genuinely saving a goal that proved to be vital for the three points.

RWB Brooks Lennon 7: Lennon created three chances (tied for most in the game), won three of his four duels, recovered the ball seven times and was generally the threat going forward that Gonzalo Pineda would’ve wanted to see.

CBs Anton Walkes: George Campbell and Alan Franco 7: There wasn’t much to separate the CBs Saturday and all put in relatively strong shifts. There were some slight errors, and perhaps they weren’t as cohesive late in the game after Gonzalo Pineda changed the shape. But together, they put in a performance that will usually be good enough and give Atlanta a platform to win matches.

LWB George Bello 8: Bello *finally got his goal late — a goal that felt like icing on the cake but proved to be the vital winning goal. The homegrown left back has been close to scoring in each of the last two games. He capitalized on a DC mistake in the first half that was Atlanta’s best chance of the game until his eventual goal. Also solid defensively.

CM Santiago Sosa 6: It was a quiet game for Sosa, and while he did well to control tempo and move the ball in possession, he only won 5 of his 15 duels and only recovered the ball 5 times — a bit low considering his position in the middle of the park.

CM Matheus Rossetto 7: Only 90 percent passing smdh. Kidding, of course. Rossetto was solid and continued playing a more expansive game with forward runs into the final third with Sosa holding behind him. Won 7 of his 11 duels.

AM Marcelino Moreno 8: After a couple recent performances when Moreno maybe hasn’t been at his best, he showed Saturday afternoon how valuable he can be. he perfect punctuation mark to the performance was his incredible mazy run that set up George Bello for what would prove to be the winning goal.

AM Ezequiel Barco(Man of the Match) 9: Another stunning goal from Barco, another 9 rating from us here at Dirty South Soccer… Barco is turning into a consistent, top tier performer. And if Atlanta United will indeed fight for MLS Cup silverware, it will be because Barco has turned into the player that Carlos Bocanegra, Darren Eagles and the Atlanta United front office thought he could be when they courted him four years ago.

ST Josef Martinez 8: The post was cruel in denying Josef his 100th Atlanta United goal in the closing stages of the game, but he’s certainly looking more and more like the MLS MVP he won in 2018. His goal in the 64th minute was slotted away superbly and with an ease that makes you feel really, really good about where he’s at.

SUB Luiz Araujo 8: “Give him the ball and enjoy the show.” That’s how Anton Walkes described what it’s like to place with someone of Araujo’s quality after Saturday’s win. He was sensational going forward with the ball once again, and made a huge impact on the match despite only coming on around the hour mark. He’s a sensational player and already stamping his mark on MLS as one of the league’s best.

SUBs Mo Adams, Alex De John NA