Atlanta United 0-0 Santos Laguna (3-5 on penalties): Player ratings as Verdiblancos advance to Round of 32

FROM MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM - Atlanta United's Leagues Cup campaign came to a screeching halt after a 0-0 (5-3 on penalties) defeat to Liga MX side Santos Laguna Sunday night.

It was a win-or-go-home scenario for both Atlanta and Santos as DC United already claimed first place in East Group 7 with six points. Atlanta entered the match with one point in second place while Santos were in third with zero points, meaning the winner of the match would advance to the Leagues Cup Round of 32 alongside DC.

Neither side were able to find the breakthrough in the first half even though both teams created a few decent half-chances. Atlanta's Xande Silva came close to opening the scoring from distance, but Santos' Carlos Acevedo pulled off a fingertip save to deny the winger. Fellow winger Saba Lobjanidze also tested Acevedo at his near post with a curling free kick from a tight angle, but the 28-year-old stood tall to keep the match knotted at 0-0.

Tempers started to flare in the second half after a rash challenge from Santos' Jordan Carrillo on Atlanta's Stian Gregersen. Carrillo was shown a yellow card as well as Tristan Muyumba after the two collided after the initial challenge, and then referee Ivan Barton moved quickly to send both Xande Silva and Anthony Lozano off after several players from both teams came together in a scuffle.

After Barton went through a VAR check, he determined that neither Silva or Lozano were to be sent off and instead showed the players yellow cards as both teams remained with 11 players on the pitch.

It seemed as if neither side wanted to score in regulation after the lack of chances created in the first half when compared to the second half. Santos would go on to advance to the Round of 32 through penalty kicks 5-3 after the match ended 0-0 in regulation, with Acevedo coming up huge with a crucial save during the shootout.

Atlanta United player ratings ( 4-3-3 )

GK: Josh Cohen - 7/10 - Wasn't really tested in the first half but made a couple of decent stops in the second 45.

RB: Brooks Lennon - 6/10 - The USA international wasn't as involved in the attack as we've become accustomed to seeing. He picked up an early yellow card which saw Santos attempt to spring forward down his side of the pitch.

CB: Stian Gregersen - 7/10 - Defended exceptionally well in the air and when Santos had players running in behind.

CB: Luis Abram - 6/10 - Abram gave the opposing forwards too much space and just doesn't have the speed like Gregersen has to be able to do that.

LB: Pedro Amador - 6/10 - In his first start as an Atlanta player, Amador found himself in good positions in the final third but his delivery could've been better.

CM: Tristan Muyumba - 6/10 - Swept up loose passes in the middle of the park alongside Fortune.

CM: Jay Fortune - 7/10 - The young midfielder was solid as he hardly misplaced a pass during the first 45, spraying balls out wide and through the center with ease.

CM: Bartosz Slisz - 6/10 - Displayed good composure on the ball and often found himself on the edge of the Santos penalty area, but his final pass let him down.

RW: Saba Lobjanidze - 6/10 - Came close to opening the scoring with a well-taken free kick. Lobjanidze also picked up passes in dangerous areas through the middle of the pitch but his touch let him down a few times.

ST: Daniel Rios - 6/10 - Rios was practically a bystander in the first half even though Atlanta were trying to set him up for an easy tap-in with several crosses into the Santos penalty area.

LW: Xande Silva - 6/10 - Like Lobjanidze, he too came close to finding the breakthrough in the first half and also went on a few impressive runs through the center of the pitch but was dispossessed on a couple of occasions.

Substitutes

SUB: Jamal Thiare (46' for Rios) - 6/10 - Was unable to get into any sort of rhythm up front.

SUB: Matt Edwards (71' for Amador) - 6/10 - Held his own in the backline and helped play some quick passes out wide to the wingers.

SUB: Edwin Mosquera (71' for Muyumba) - 5/10 - Mosquera was simply trying to do too much after coming on.

SUB: Dax McCarthy (79' for Fortune) - 6/10 - Did well to put away his penalty attempt.

SUB: Nick Firmino (89' for Silva) - 6/10 - Put away his penalty attempt with ease.

Manager

Rob Valentino - 7/10 - The interim boss set did just about all he could to set Atlanta up for success given the current status of their squad. The team created a few genuine half-chances from cut-back passes but just couldn't find out how to break down the Santos defense through the middle.

Player of the match - Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)