Ruthless Aggression Results In Atlanta United 3-1 Win

It was another sold-out home match for Atlanta United and another showcase of Miguel Almiron’s talents. Atlanta United gets revenge on NYCFC by a 3-1 score

Atlanta United fans had revenge on their minds after the 3-1 loss three weeks ago at Yankee Stadium. And they got it Sunday afternoon in Atlanta at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Boy, did they ever get it…

Miguel Almiron made his case for League MVP with another effort that showed his creativity, closing speed, deftness of touch, and ability to put the ball home when presented with the chance.

Case #1 

What you notice here is Julian Gressel all over again. At the end of the play after the Villalba touch, Gressel (for the second week in a row) sends a centering cross to a spot, not a player, but a spot. Almiron is there and NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson has a rude return home.

"“We all know what a great player Julian is,” Almiron said after the match. “He’s a really important player for the team. For us, it’s really important that he maintains the level of play that he’s been showing the last couple of games. Playing with Julian, Tito (Hector Villalba) and Yamil (Asad) makes playing fútbol easier. ”"

The second #5Stripes goal comes only a few minutes later where Yamil Asad hooks up with Villalba as Atlanta United kept NYCFC’s defense on its heels and kept pressuring from the wings.

Case #2

Once again… the finish is Gressel to Almiron. But watch the beginning of the play where Gressel muscles himself through the NYCFC defender to keep the play going…

It was a subtle change head coach “Tata” Martino made before the Portland match, switching Gressel out wide and having Villalba go up top. It allowed Migiel Almiron the ability and opportunity to create and also has allowed Villalba to weave in and out of traffic to create chances like Goal #2.

Gressel knows just how the offense has changed…

"“The role is just different,” he admitted. “I get in more dangerous spots. Today, I was kind of running in the wing and trying (to) just a little cut back. I was on the end line cutting the balls back for Miguel (Almirón) or whoever follows. It gives me a chance to get in more dangerous spots sometimes or a lot more often I would say.”"

On the flip side, NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira addressed the early onslaught:

"“It made it difficult because of the quality of the players they have up front. They put us under pressure. They played well. They were aggressive especially in the first half. They won a lot of 50-50 balls. When a team like that wins all of the 50-50(balls), it becomes more difficult for us because they have more desire than us.”"

Three goals in seven minutes and that was, pretty much, all that Atlanta United needed to extract the exact revenge for the loss in the Bronx:

For Sean Johnson, it was more bitter than sweet, being the backstop on a defense that got run out of the building at times on The Flats:

"“It’s disappointing to get the result we got but it’s good to play at home. It’s my first time to play at home since, I think, 2014 (with Chicago against Atlanta Silverbacks in U.S. Open Cup). It’s good to see the atmosphere and what they’ve done here and for my family to come out and watch me play. It was great to have them out supporting.”"

Since Martino got a security escort to Level 4 at Bobby Dodd Stadium Sunday and got to watch the match victory from up high (because of last week’s ejection against Houston), he wasn’t allowed to speak for his team after the match. That role fell to Technical Director, Carlos Bocanegra.

Bocanegra has now seen a team grasp a bit of a philosophical change on the pitch in the last month and turn it into something very dangerous when it functions as Martino wants it to, and what long-time assistant Jorge Thieler implemented Sunday for the win against NYCFC:

"“We are very happy with how they are playing. It is also a long season but we have to give a lot of credit to the guys around them as well. We have had couple of good games in a row. Miguel (Almirón) is coming out of his shell a little bit. A few solid games back to back (are) propelling us forward but — this is what you need in this league is for — your top players to perform and these guys are doing that right now.”"

What’s Next…?

That’s the interesting question…

Jacob Peterson is getting closer to returning to add to the Martino depth squad. Forward Josef Martinez is a different question. He was seen doing some practice activities late in the week and there was a thought that he might make the 18 against NYCFC.

That didn’t happen. And it may not happen for another two weeks, regardless of how healthy J-Mart actually is.

Here’s why…

The match Saturday afternoon at BC Place is on turf. Don’t be surprised if Martinez is held out for the match on grass on June 10th in Chicago. Bring a lightning fast scorer back there instead of stomping up and down on an artificial surface.

When it does happen, it creates a thought for the Starting XI, and the odd man out might be Julian Gressel, an act out of philosophy and not out of a run of poor play by a rookie. Far from it…

Next: Keisuke Honda to MLS?

And then, there’s the net…

Alec Kann has grown into his role as the starting goalkeeper. That is known.

What is unknown is when Brad Guzan takes the keys from Kann after the ex-Middlesbrough keeper returns after USMNT duty.

What Guzan’s addition presents is depth at a position that will never hurt to have it, especially with Open Cup runs and a lot of mid-week matches down the home stretch.

Enjoy the depth, folks… that was the plan… and don’t be surprised if the Starting XI looks a little different at times this season as the team sprints into the summer.

On to Vancouver, y’all…