Atlanta United's MLS season under threat after third consecutive loss

Atlanta has long been considered an MLS success story. The club won the league in its second operating season (2018) and has regularly been challenged in the MLS playoffs since. It nested Miguel Almiron, one of MLS's finest exports, and is currently nesting Thiago Almada, who might be finer still. It's one of the few MLS franchises supported by fans outside of its metro area; fans as far away as Phoenix and Philadelphia all love Atlanta.

But Atlanta's brittle and undeveloped defense this season might throw all of that into question—and this Charlotte defeat illustrates why. Take a look at Charlotte's first goal below, scored by ex-Atlanta man Justin Meram:

Meram was utterly unmarked on Atlanta's goalpost. Not a single Atlanta defender picked him up—and he was standing in one of the most obvious and dangerous positions on the field.

And as for Charlotte's second? It was a penalty after Atlanta's Andrew Gutman tugged Charlotte's attacker down in the box. It was a childish play from an experienced defender who should know better, and Gutman rightfully got a red card for his troubles.

If Atlanta is to stop this dangerous skid, it has to start with defense. The team has the players to succeed but, it cannot keep making silly mistakes like it did against Charlotte. With crucial mid-table clashes against Colorado, Chicago and Orlando on the horizon, Atlanta's season could hinge on the next few weeks of play.

"We said today that if we keep losing, if we keep dropping points, the fans will disappear and they will be right," Atlanta forward Giorgos Giakoumakis said after the Charlotte match. "We bring the fans to the stadium and then we send them away."