Same Ole Atlanta United

[lethalweapon3]

US Open Cup action continues today with the Round of 16, as Atlanta United is down in SoFla to wrangle with NASL side Miami FC.

ATLUTD will play-to-win, but Coach Tata will likely rest a lot of their routine starters, and Miami FC isn't taking things lightly, either. The whole reason the hosts, by far the class of the 8-team NASL league, are even in this game is they upset MLS' Orlando City SC 3-1 in the prior round, led by a hat trick from Brazilian forward Pinho. Still, if all goes well for the Five Stripes today, the next time a MLS team plays in Miami, they'll have David Beckham paying the bills.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM Eastern, and while there's no TV, Atlanta United is streaming the game for free from its website: https://www.atlutd.com/live

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Remember back when Atlanta United was good on the road and only so-so at home? The tables have turned. They're hoping to say "Goodbye, Columbus" and notch their first three-point haul on the road since April 22 with a win against the Crew (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast). They've gone 0-4-1 away from Bobby Dodd since the April victory at Salt Lake City, and that's not even counting the 3-2 Open Cup loss in Miami earlier this week.

Atlanta topped the Crew 3-1 just two weekends ago here at home. Columbus (8-9-1 W-L-D) will try to even things up by keeping the ball off the feet of leading assist-maker Yamil Asad, who it's reported may have been bought out from his primary club in Argentina,

With the schedule picking up the pace over the coming weeks, Manager Tata Martino is likely to shuffle starting lineups to give players some rest, particularly along the back line. Whichever team's defenders make the fewest tactical mistakes is likely to have the upper hand tonight.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Two towns losing sports team anchors initialed "P.M." (Paul Millsap, Patrick Marleau) have their soccer teams facing off on Independence Day. Atlanta United hosts a San Jose Earthquakes team (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South) that's a little surprised to be getting accustomed to a new coach.

The Quakes (7-6-5 W-L-T) shook things up just hours after a victory on June 25, their new general manager canning longtime head coach Dom Kinnear and replacing him with technical director Chris Leitch.

Despite sitting in third place in the Western Conference, San Jose's new management wanted to change the team's style of play, and they've won games by a score of 2-1 against both Seattle and shorthanded Los Angeles since the sacking. They'll want to play a lot of keep-away against Atlanta's potent offensive attack, hoping to catch the Five Stripes (8-7-3) napping on set pieces to steal a victory at Bobby Dodd.

I trust there will be fireworks, but hopefully fans will have to wait until after the game for those!

Let's Go United!

~lwhappy4th

[lethalweapon3]

There goes C-Snarklamore!

In other news, no Atlanta United games for a couple weeks! The MLS schedule is taking a break during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the multi-national tourney for the combined North American, Central American and Caribbean region. The US is hosting the Gold Cup, and the nearest venues are in Nashville and Tampa.

ATLUTD Goalkeeper Brad Guzan (who will be needed ASAP, now that Alec Kann's left quad injury is sidelining him for 6-8 weeks) will be the lead netminder for Team USA. Kyle Reynish performed well moving up to the top line in Kann's place during last night's exciting 4-2 win over San Jose.

The Gold Cup runs from July 7 through July 26, but the Five Stripes will return to action in Orlando on July 21.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Up in Nashville in the CONCACAF Gold Cup opener, the reviews of ATLUTD goalkeeper Brad Guzan were stellar, despite Team USA settling for a 1-1 draw against Panama.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1616/concacaf/2017/07/08/36934572/usa-player-ratings-dwyer-guzan-shine-in-underwhelming-gold

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/08/us-player-ratings-brad-guzan-clear-standout-gold-cup-draw

Quote

Brad Guzan (8.5) - The new Atlanta United netminder literally did everything he could to save the team on this day. Guzan's 55th minute stop that temporarily preserved the lead was quite arguably the finest save by a USMNT 'keeper this year. Though he could have been the big star of a victory with just a bit of added alertness from his defense, he had to settle for being the main reason they managed to earn a point.

Guzan and Team USA will try to tackle Martinique in Tampa on Wednesday (9:00 PM Eastern, FS1, UniMas).

Back home, the Atlanta Silverbacks are playing at a tier below the MLS, in the National Professional Soccer League. But they completed a decent campaign with victory against the Georgia Revolution (a winless team playing out of nearby Hampton, GA) and clinched a spot in the NPSL Playoffs.

Tomorrow, the Silverbacks host a Southeast Conference quarterfinal versus Asheville City SC.

https://www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com/se-conf-qf/

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The Silverbacks prevailed in their NPSL quarterfinal 1-0 before a light crowd at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Why so light? When was the last time you went to a playoff game at 3:30 PM on a Tuesday?

Dirty South Soccer explained why fairly well, featuring an owner name that seems to be straight out of Hollywood casting.

https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2017/7/10/15946522/silverbacks-announce-playoff-match-at-3-30pm-on-tuesday-july-11

 

Quote

 

Atlanta Silverbacks Park is owned an operated by Boris Jerkunica, who previously owned the NASL Silverbacks. In addition to the NPSL team, the field also hosts a number of adult recreational soccer leagues in the evenings. Fans who stay late after Silverbacks games will see the rec-league players warming up at the Park. These rec-leagues, which generate a steady stream of revenue for Jerkunica, seem to take precedence over NPSL matches.

The Silverbacks looked into changing venues for a U.S. Open Cup match earlier this season, but found that the organization might lose hosting privileges in the future if they changed. The Backs ran into a similar problem last postseason and ended up playing a match at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville.

 

 

With today's win, the 'Backs now head to New Orleans for the Southeast Conference semifinals on July 14 (and finals the next day, if they can beat the host). Surviving that, they'd move to the South Region playoffs beginning on July 29.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Congrats to the 3 ATLUTD members headed to the MLS All-Star Game! Including our team captain!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Back to Conquering!

Atlanta United is out to establish an inter-city rivalry with Orlando that decades of Hawks-Magic could never quite achieve. But ahead of the home-and-home pair coming up between The Five Stripes and Orlando City SC (7:00 PM Eastern), it really helps conquerors to have a goaltender in tow.

After CONCACAF Gold Cup group play, there were a pair of national team changes that work well in favor of ATLUTD tonight. Bruce Arena added the legendary Tim Howard to the USMNT roster, freeing up Brad Guzan to make his debut in goal for Atlanta (9-7-3 W-L-T, 4th in MLS East standings via points per game).

Guzan's addition comes in excellent time to offset the loss of Alec Kann to injury just before the Gold Cup break. Kann was simply supposed to be holding the fort until Guzan's international obligations were met. But the Decatur product has been satisfyingly steady, helping Atlanta's postseason prospects during its maiden voyage get a whole lot brighter.

Orlando City (8-7-5) has scored just 22 goals this season, fewer goals per game than anyone in MLS aside from D.C. United (17 goals in 20 games) and Howard's Colorado Rapids (19 goals in 18 games).

Team Canada has done the Lions no favors, calling up Orlando's leading goal scorer Cyle Larin (8 goals, incl. five of Orlando's 8 game-winners, despite being shelved for 3 games due to a DUI arrest) to represent the Maple Leafs. One young (Carlos Rivas) and one not-so-young (Kaka) midfielder will step things up offensively in the interim without their star forward. Larin will be back in time next Saturday's rematch in ATL. now that Canada lost 2-1 last night to Jamaica in a Gold Cup knockout round.

Orlando City allowed the most MLS goals in 2016, just the second season of their own existence. But the Pride has firmed up their club on the back line (defender Jonathan Spector) and improved between the pipes (goalkeeper Joe Bendik, from Kennesaw's Harrison High; 6 shutouts). That allowed OCSC to start the season strong and remain just ahead of the playoff line coming out of the midseason break.

In what could be a low-scoring affair, Atlanta United's goal for this match is to keep the pressure from the Peachtree Press on Orlando, and to avoid the ball-control and defensive lapses that require Guzan to overthink things in his debut with the club.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[Guest]

Nice game tonight!

Maybe wearing my jersey that my sons bought me for my recent birthday helped.

 

[lethalweapon3]

Fare thee well, Bobby Dodd Stadium! Atlanta United finally gets the keys to The Benz about 40 days from now, following a road trip of just three games in August. But first, it's a final farewell to Grant Field, which has been vewwy vewwy good to the Five Stripes' faithful, as the home club takes on Orlando City SC for the second time in nine days in a nationally-televised clash (5:00 PM Eastern, FOX TV).

Despite being home, the degree of difficulty should rise for the hometeam, after riding Tito Villalba's moon shot and Brad Guzan's nifty netminding to a 1-0 win in O-Town last Friday. Orlando City (8-8-5 W-L-D) gave its woeful offense (22 goals in 21 matches) a booster shot by trading Straight Cash, Homie (allocation money, plus incentives) for top-notch striker Dom Dwyer from Sporting KC.

Dwyer (married to USWNT star Sydney Leroux) played college ball at nearby USF in Tampa, and formerly led Orlando City to a lower-tier USL title back in 2013. Assuming he'll at least come off the bench after arriving on Thursday, Dwyer and the returning Cyle Larin, who missed OCSC's loss to Atlanta while repping for Canada in their CONCACAF Gold Cup match, will place a lot more pressure on Guzan and Atlanta's back line.

It would be nice to meet fire with fire, but Atlanta's Josef Martinez (bruised foot) will be sidelined again after missing the July 21 game. Coach Tata Martino said Josef acquired the foot injury during the US Open Cup match against Charleston, so it has been nagging for some time.

Orlando is eager to collect three points in the standings after falling out of the Top 6 in the East. They'd like to be back above the playoff line before the All-Star Game next week. For what is shaping up to be a much higher-scoring affair, Atlanta (10-7-3 W-L-D, league-high 2.00 goals per game) needs a strong showing from midfielder Miggy Almiron, and wingers Villalba and Yamil Asad, to ensure this finale at Georgia Tech is a winning one.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

 

[lethalweapon3]

"What'll ya have?" Before the MLS All-Stars boot off with Real Madrid (sin Ronaldo) tomorrow, be sure to catch Atlanta United's 18-year-old wunderkind Andrew Carleton and the MLS Homegrown team taking the pitch tonight (8:00 PM Eastern, Univision Deportes) against the U-20 club for the "N.Y. Yankees of Mexico," Chivas de Guadalajara!

It's the fourth-ever MLS Homegrown Game, and the MLS side is on the hunt for their first win today in Chicago. 2013 league MVP and Windy City native Mike Magee will manage the young bucks, along with Chi-town-area native and Columbus Crew legend Brian McBride.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I missed out on 17-year-old Chris Goslin, somehow! The Jamaican midfielder was a late add to the roster. A satisfying showing yesterday from both ATLUTD players, especially when Goslin's assist helped equalize the MLS Homegrown's score at 2-2 versus Chivas' U-20 squad late in stoppage time.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Be sure to watch for Greg Garza, Atlanta United team captain Michael Parkhurst, and Miggy Almiron tonight in Chicago (8:30 PM Eastern, FS1, Univision)!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Have I ever mentioned how much exhibitions (in the RAIN) suck sometimes?

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Upon Further Review... Atlanta United has just three chances to make moves up the standings this month, including tonight in KC (8:00 PM Eastern, FS1), where Sporting Kansas City (9-4-9 W-L-T) has yet to take an L (7-0-2 at Children's Mercy Park).

They'll go into this match without defender Greg Garza, who separated his shoulder in last week's All-Star Game (he'll miss 7-10 days), and striker Josef Martinez (foot), who but for injuries would've probably been picked to join the Team MLS side in Chicago. Backup striker Kenwyne Jones (knee) and backup goakeeper Alec Kann (quad) remain out as well.

But there will be a debut today on the pitch. It's called a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and it will be deployed after goals to see if there were any disqualifying actions, like a missed offsides, that preceded them. Penalties and Red Cards issued on on-field referees will also be reviewed by the VAR.

Dirty South Soccer's Sam Jones and Joe Patrick openly debated the pros and cons of the VAR. I was kinda against it at first, but... Upon Further Review... I'm willing to see it in action now.

https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2017/8/1/16069984/mls-video-review-pros-cons

FC Dallas' loss yesterday in Philly places Sporting KC atop the Western Conference in the points-per-game standings, and they'd like to keep it that way. They're relying on sound possession strategies and goalkeeping from All-Star snub Tim Melia (MLS-high 78.8 Save%) to carry the day. They're the only MLS club allowing less than one goal per game (17 in 22 contests).

Shutout on 8 occasions this season, the KC offense is proceeding without Dom Dwyer (traded to Orlando City a couple weeks ago) and forward Cameron Porter, who is out for the season after breaking a fibula during practice. Leading scorer Gerso Fernandes returns after a one-game suspension by the league (for spiking a Real Salt Lake player in the shin).

Gerso, forward Latif Blessing, and midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Roger Espinoza hope to create just enough offense to keep ATLUTD at arm's length. Without Gerso and Dwyer, KC still managed to outpoint the Chicago Fire 3-2 on July 29, keeping Chicago from making a move on Toronto atop the MLS East. Mikey Ambrose will fill in for Garza at left back for The Five Stripes, who could use the defender's crossing skills.

Atlanta (10-7-4 W-L-T) has motivation beyond snapping KC's franchise-record 11-match streak without a loss. With a win today, they'll pass the loser and/or tier of the New York Red Bulls and NYCFC match (6:00 PM Eastern) which precedes this game on FS1.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Oh yeah, soccer! You all remember MLS soccer, don't y'all?

After 16 days of rest, Atlanta United will try to revv up the goal-making machine in the nation's capital against a D.C. United team (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South in ATL) that has struggled to beat anyone other than Atlanta this season.

The league's worst MLS outfit, DCU is just 6-15-4 (W-L-T) this season. But a full third of their win total are represented by both games played versus expansion Atlanta so far. That included a 3-1 win over Atlanta at Bobby Dodd back in April and, in ATLUTD's last MLS loss, a 2-1 victory here at RFK Stadium back on June 21.

The good news for D.C. is they have not allowed more than a single goal in their last three matches, including a 1-0 win in Denver versus Tim Howard's equally-poor Colorado Rapids (the lone score was an own goal, but no one's in a mood to quibble). They're hoping for more excellent defense on their end (Bill Hamid in goal, 2nd in MLS for Total Saves, as a last-line of defense) and enough lapses on Atlanta's end to earn their third win of the season over their new rival. ATLUTD Brad Guzan wasn't here for either loss, and has other plans in mind.

Due to the time off, Atlanta (10-7-5 W-L-T) has "slipped" to 7th in the East's overall standings based on points, but moved up to 4th in the conference based on points per game. A win today could inch Atlanta United over the slipping Chicago Fire, currently 3rd in the PPG standings. The Fire have lost three straight, including their first home loss of the year versus top-seed Toronto.

Striker Josef Martinez and left back Greg Garza have been practicing in recent days, and may be activated for tonight's action. Having a reasonably healthy roster would go a long way for Atlanta (1.91 goals per game, 2nd in MLS) to pump up the shots-on-goal volume on a DCU team that is still working in newly acquired players, like American Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana, Liga MX) from the trade window.

One of the players D.C. shipped out was newest Atlanta United defenseman Bobby Boswell. The 34-year-old started ten games for his former team this season, and was among MLS' Best XI as recently as 2014, starring for Houston Dynamo (2006 Defender of the Year) in the six seasons before that. He'll be a vital veteran cog on the depth chart for Atlanta's home-flavored playoff push next month.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

So, yeah, that didn't work out so hot up in D.C. Well, no matter, it's time for Atlanta United to turn their focus onto the Philadelphia Union (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, CSN Philly).

Midfielder Carlos Carmona has a few too many yellow cards and will sit this one out, with Julian most likely to bring some Gresselmania to the fray. Atlanta showed a clear lack of focus with passing and defending after the opening minutes of play in D.C., felled by a Michael Parkhurst own-goal early in the second half, and they'll need to regain their senses if they want to keep the Union at arm's length.

It's the final game before the next FIFA-mandated international break (Miggy and Josef will be off playing for their respective countries in World Cup qualifiers), so it would be great to grab 3 points ahead of the break and the wild home schedule at the Benz which awaits.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Mears-aculous! Salvaged the draw!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Vroom-vroom... it's time to pack The Benz!

Atlanta United fans will fill up their new confines at Mercedes Benz Stadium, as their team begins a five-game home swing against FC Dallas (3:30 PM Eastern). The pressure is high for both clubs, each side still clinging to a playoff spot based on points-per game despite a downturn in success.

After a strong start to the year, Dallas (9-7-10 W-L-T), 2016's US Open Cup and Supporter's Shield winners, last pulled off a victory back on July 22 at Montreal. There's been slippage defensively of late, but until last Saturday's 2-2 draw against the Red Bulls, the Toros were more concerned with getting star midfielder Mauro Diaz going.

Diaz was brought along slowly after missing the first couple months with an Achilles injury, but used a penalty kick to score his first goal of the season since returning as a starter in June in the tie versus NYRB.

While goalkeeper Brad Guzan (who made his 6th USMNT World Cup Qualifier start last week, in a 1-1 draw against Honduras) and ATLUTD defenders strive to limit shot opportunities and scores for midfielders Michael Barrios, Roland Lamah and Diaz, along with goal-leading forward Maximiliano Urruti (12 goals, 1 in 5 August games), the Peachtree Press has been pressing in a bad way. Midfielders Hector Villalba, Miggy Almiron and Yamil Asad were shut out in August, Almiron managing just a single shot-on-goal.

To be fair, Atlanta had just three games in that month, all on the road. But while the scene shifts to a fan-friendly MBS, the schedule will be compressed this month, with the next five games coming in the space of just 15 days.

While scores of thousands of Five Stripes faithful will seek to break the record for MLS attendance, what's more important is which cohort of 11 players show up and show out.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[AHF]

On 5/15/2017 at 7:24 AM, Thomas said:

A sport that has a game end in a 1-1 tie and is a common occurrence makes it a tad difficult to watch whole matches for me after growing up watching and being use to roundball and football lighting up the scoreboard. Still trying but haven't made it through an entire match as of yet. 

Football and soccer are interesting contrasts for that.  Football has more scoring but is more time between plays than actual playing.  Soccer has fewer scores but almost constant play.