Gabriel Pirani’s second-half goal saved a point on the road for visiting DC United on Saturday night, as they faced Atlanta United to a 1-1 draw on the final day of the MLS regular season.
Despite the end of its three-game losing streak, DC (5-18-11, 26 points) saw its winless streak reach five matches (0-2-3). Saturday’s draw also means it will finish bottom of the MLS standings for the first time since 2013.
Atlanta (5-16-13, 27 points) avoided last place in the league standings thanks to the draw but saw its winless streak reach six matches (0-4-2).
Pirani scored in the 67th minute, almost immediately after Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a kick save on Christian Benteke’s first attempt.
Joao Peglow’s follow-up shot deflected off Atlanta defender Enea Mihaj and back to Pirani, who eventually finished at Guzan’s far post to make it 1-1. It was Pirani’s seventh goal of the season.
Pirani’s goal matched a third-minute opener from Atlanta’s Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan international’s low, long-range shot from just beyond the edge of the box found its way past DC goalkeeper Jordan Farr as Atlanta opened a 1-0 lead. It was Almiron’s sixth goal of the season.
Almiron appeared to make it 2-0 in the 18th minute off a Steven Alzate free kick, but found himself offside in the process.
After Pirani’s equalizer in the second half, Saba Lobjanidze had the chance to give Atlanta the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute, but DC United’s Lukas MacNaughton cleared the ball from the goal line at the last second.
Meanwhile, Guzan, who announced his retirement on Tuesday after a professional career that spanned just over two decades, finished with three saves in his final match, his only blemish of the evening being Pirani’s goal.
Atlanta had 13 total shots to DC’s 10, while also holding a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
Farr finished the night with five saves for D.C.
–Field level media
