Matchday 15: AUFC vs PHI

Discussion in 'Atlanta United FC' started by GunnerJacket, Jun 2, 2018.

  1. GunnerJacket

    GunnerJacket Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 18, 2003
    Gainesville, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union
    Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
    June 2 - 7:30 pm ET
    FoxSports Southeast

    MLSsoccer.com preview here.
    AJC.com 3 Questions here.

    Pick your storyline: Atlanta trying to end a 2 game home losing streak. Atlanta trying to stay in pole position for the league's best record. Philly looking to extend their own hot streak (10 points from 4 games). The Benz featuring an open roof.

    Philly comes in having figured out how to play more like a team, with off season signee Dockal now looking like someone worth the effort. This even as CJ Sapong has struggled so far this season.

    Atlanta comes in knowing Garza is out but everyone else should be healthy, pending Tito Villalba's knee. The question is how well the team has recovered from the midweek trip to New England, and in particular how they've mentally recovered from giving away 2 points with brief spell of poor discipline.

    The good news is Philly is not (as yet) considered a strong pressing team and their offensive options have been limited this season, so if Atlanta plays with the same hustle seen in the 2nd half Wednesday they should control the contest. The players have indicated they're itching to rediscover the form that would win games by 2, 3 or more goals so let's see if that hunger drives them on or yields more frustration. They need to find more consistent options than Martinez and (of late) Barco, so don't be surprised if the likes of Gressel and even Nagbe start tossing a few more shots toward the Philly onion bag. Conversely, Parkhurst and Guzan were quite upset at losing the shutout in midweek, so look for the defense to likewise play with a chip on their shoulder.

    3-1 to the good, today.
     
  2. Guardien

    Guardien Member

    Oct 7, 2013
    Alpharetta, Georgia
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nailed it!!!
     
  3. SabreKhan

    SabreKhan Member+

    Jun 25, 2007
    United States
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Philly was playing a pretty good game until they completely lost their minds on the penalty kick scenario. I actually thought it was a pretty good idea for some Philly player to drag out the PK by wasting time in the box. It gives the VAR an opportunity to watch some replays a couple of times and make sure they got the call right. But Bedoya was sitting on a yellow already. So for him in particular to do it was just boneheaded. The referee gave him an opportunity to leave the area, then warned him, then he stepped FURTHER INTO the D and bent down to adjust his shin guards. Just an idiot. He didn't even really complain when he got the second yellow, either. From where I was sitting in the second deck, that was a completely deserved red. Here's the thing, though: if it had been any other player who hadn't already been warned, it probably wouldn't even have been a yellow card.

    But then the play got even weirder, because #6 flipped his lid for no apparent reason and got two yellow cards in like four seconds, both deserved. Deserved, but totally unnecessary.

    What's funny is that Trusty, the guy who caused the whole thing to begin with, didn't get a card. Nor should he have. It was just a foul, and not even really his fault. Martinez effed up the dribble and got the ball trapped under him, then dropped when he felt contact.

    I really felt like Tata should have subbed out Martinez way earlier. Like, at halftime. With a two-man advantage, you know they're going to park the bus. Their keeper is also really good. We needed somebody in the box to win aerial battles. We could get high crosses in, but nobody is there to receive them. He left him in so long to get the hat trick (which, by the way, was successful!), but I really felt it could have been a 7-1 scoreline with a different mix of attackers in there.
     

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