Atlanta United Express Lane: The Crew SC Match In 10 Items Or Less

It’s “that” time of the year…

Schedule compression…

For those teams that are still involved in Open Cup competition, you play mid-week and then you have to come back and play on the weekend back in Major League Soccer.

It’s a test for those teams still in Open Cup, and will be a test for those that are “roster-challenged.” But the first question from the shopping list…

Is Atlanta United in that boat?

Maybe…

Let’s go back to the match with the Charleston Battery…

7 new faces were in the line-up and it took a while for everyone to get in sync…

That includes Josef Martinez, Kevin Kratz, Anton Walkes, Brandon Vazquez- and even more guys introduced as subs. Kratz continued to solidify the decision to have him in the weekly 18 with his work on the equalizer

Two goals, one of those “set pieces that drive Tata Martino crazy” and a deflection after the Kratz goal gave the Battery a 2-1 lead. But…

Josef Martinez might be back… 

Here’s the equalizer at twos and here’s the finish…

You’ll have to look at the short version above more than once, but notice Brandon Vazquez’s work on the far side of the screen. It took a while for Vazquez to get used to life on the edge, but he seemed to get comfortable with it. The second United goal is a part of that…

You’ll need the depth going forward

Here’s the game-winner… and look at the build-up again as the ball ended up in the back of the net…

It’s Almiron, Mikey Ambrose (who came in as a substitute), and Vazquez from the far.

Tata was not happy… the team WILL remember that…

In the post-match interview scrum, Martino was reminded that he didn’t look like a guy who had just won a Cup match coming from behind.

He shook his head, laughing, and said “No…”

Martino wanted to substitute Jeff Larentowicz, Miguel Almiron, and Josef Martinez off knowing the schedule is what it will be. Events on the field dictated otherwise- bringing in Julian Gressel, Ambrose, and Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu (when Anton Walkes left with an injury).

Columbus isn’t in a much-better position

The Crew went to #Hell, aka Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium,  and lost 1-0 to FC Cincinnati in their Open Cup match-up. Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter played, pretty much, a Starting XI and endurance might be an issue…

Here’s a look at all the chances they had…

Could Hell be real for a second week in a row? 

For the Crew, it could be…

A team lacking offense and, if Atlanta United’s defense clamps down on Justin Meram forcing everyone else to be the offense, it could be a long night.

But…

What would the Atlanta Starting XI look like…???

Is Larentowicz going to sit because of all the miles he has put in recently…???

Could Almiron and Martinez come off the bench…???

Will Vazquez and Kratz start in their place…???

Does Mark Bloom start for a slumping Tyrone Mears…???

Could Andrew Carleton show up on the 18…???

The back four should return in Mears, Garza, Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez, and Michael Parkhurst…

Carlos Carmona would be in the middle of it all. Yamil Asad and Tito Villalba will be back. But the combinations, rhythm, and familiarity with one another might take a while to get in sync.

Give it some time…

Which means what, exactly? 

Glad you asked…

The game could be a pretty wild one… and it will be the second week in a row that Crew will be in front of a very hostile crowd…

Atlanta United has proven to itself that it can come from behind. Will they learn the lesson going forward…???

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: FOX Sports Southeast

Talent: Alan Green (play-by-play), Dan Gargan (analyst), BrittanyArnold (sideline reporter)

Local Radio: WZGC 92.9 The Game

Talent: Adam Schick (play-by-play) and Jason Longshore (color)

Local Radio (Spanish): La Mejor – AM 1600 (Atlanta), 1460(Gwinnett), 1130 (Gainesville)

Talent: Armando Carrilo (play-by-play), Daniel Cantu (color) andJorge Avina (sideline).

One last thing before we go…

Welcome the new addition to the Garza family…

https://twitter.com/gmgarza4/status/875433739408551937

That’s our preview… What say you?

Check in down in the Comments Section below and let us know what you think ahead of #ATLvCLB