Atlanta United vs Philadelphia Union Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta Saturday, May 17, 7:30 PM Apple TV MLSsoccer.com preview here. AJC.com United coverage. AUFC home page. Doop home page. Player Availability Reports Injury absences to be listed here. Recent Form Atlanta (2-5-6) ATX 1-1 ATL CHI 2-1 ATL ATL 1-1 NSC Philly (8-2-3) PHI 3-2 LAG PHI 2-2 CLB PHI 1-1 Indy Eleven (USOC) ~ The Sons of Ben and Co. come south to face the Stripes in what on paper could be a one-sided contest. Philly enter on a 6 game unbeaten run, which started with their win over Atlanta in Chester last month, and they've been everything Atlanta was projected to be: Aggressive in attack, scoring most every game, and playing fair enough on defense that they're outscoring folks 2-to-1. Expect the Stripes' lineup to again have an air of experimentation while various defenders continue to rehab. Nothing definitive about prospective formation or changes compared to Wednesday, tho additional rotation might be on order simply to offset personal fatigue in some players. Braves are away, Hawks are done... Do the locals show up and show out? Either way, Vamos Atlanta!
Philly is #2 in the East, and we're # a lot more than 2. It would be huge for this team to have a 3-goal game here. Home crowd, good opponent, night game, revenge owed. Got to get motivated for this one. The Braves are above .500 for the first time all season, so I'm feeling optimistic. 3-2 win for the red and black.
I want us to rotate players. Let Thiare, Mosquera, Saba, and Muyumba start. Let Miranchuk and Latte be subs. Make people earn their playing time on the field.
There does start for Lath tonight. Posted as a back 5 with Edwards added to the D, and Amador does start. Saba still starting on the bench
33' - We've had a couple of really good looks at goal. Should be up by at least a goal at this point, but we still can't seem to find the back of the net.
Nil-nil at halftime. Philly has gotten a couple of chances, but Atlanta has been controlling the game. Feels like there are at least two goals in this game, but it remains to be seen who bags them.
Guzan whiffs on a ball at the top of the box, forcing Abram to make a sliding save that ends up being a handball for a PK. Philly converts. 0-1
Atlanta has no idea how to move a ball vertically. Lots of east-west passing among the defenders, but nothing decisive going forward. Our only chances in the second half were all Route 1 long balls. Admittedly, some of those were decent chances. In fact, it's almost as if they're being coached NOT to go forward. Plenty of times with wide open Atlanta players in the attacking third getting no service.
FT: 0-1 Personally I think that was the best Atlanta has looked in a month, and at the least they deserved a draw. No, I'm not excusing the keystone cops moments in front of goal, but compared to recent matches they had more quality attacking chances tonight. And on the whole they played with more poise defensively, due both to the formation and having Muyumba playing fairly well as the deep-lying midfield role we loved with Nagbe. Felt Edwards was MOTM for me. He's matured a lot and made some great defensive stops, showed great hustle, and keeps becoming more productive in the attack. We didn't get a replay of the handball in the stadium, so I've no idea if it was legit. Usually when they don't show it then the home team is guilty. S****y way to have the match decided, but Atlanta still has a lot of room to improve defensively. Saba was really frustrating tonight, and I think the situation is getting to his head. Easily half his decisions tonight met with disapproval from the crowd, and I wasn't disagreeing with the crowd. So, hopefully this team will make use of the vast break that will come during the Club World Cup. Safe to say they're not winning a trophy this season but I got a smidgen of hope in Daila tonight. Maybe with a couple moves over the summer they can get back to what they want in time for next season?
We'll be in the hunt for the Wooden Spoon, so there's that! Abram definitely handled the ball. It was emergency defending, not his fault. Nothing he could've done differently, but still a legit PK. Guzan never should've put him in that position, but then again sloppy play upfield led to Philly's break in the first place.