Yamil Asad returned to his MLS roots on the opposite side of the ball. Here is a look at how the former Atlanta United player did for his new digs at DC United.
Yamil Asad seemed out-of-sync with his new DC United teammates for most of the match, and he spent most of his effort chasing the ball around the Atlanta United right flank as Gressel, Escobar, and Nagbe played a cruel little game of 3 v 1.
When DC did collect the ball on Asad’s flank, the chemistry was lacking as Asad was never played into an advantageous 1 v 1 situation down the left channel. When Asad made the run…the ball was played square. When Asad checked the run…the ball was served to a waiting Atlanta defender.
Asad seemed distant and disconnected from the DC United attack and he sat out wide occupying space rather than drifting inside to mix it up in the Atlanta midfield. The spectator approach kept Asad out of any direct confrontations and only a few times were there any 50-50 tackles with Gressel or Nagbe being the dueling foe.
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Asad did step up to hit several corner kicks and free kicks, but Atlanta’s defense cleared their lines or Guzan made easy collections of all the Asad set-piece offerings.
It was not until the 86th minute that Asad made one of his familiar slashing runs with the ball at his feet, driving to the top of the Atlanta penalty box. At the moment of decision, the ball pin-balled off an Atlanta defender, wrong-footing the Atlanta center back where DC’s Darren Mattocks pounced on the loose ball for a DC consolation prize in the 3-1 loss.
Asad created the chaos in the box but was not credited with an assist. A fitting way for a subdued return to Atlanta to end for No. 22 in DC United white.
Asad was again cheered by the Atlanta crowd as he left the field and the curtain came down on his first ATL reunion tour.
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After musing about the game and seeing Asad play in DC United colors…here are some takeaways from the game:
- Asad does not fit in the DC United system and this looks to be something that will not be a good long-term fit for Asad. They never played to his strengths and he stayed disconnected from the build-up play to be a critical factor in the game.
- Asad only raised his stock in Atlanta with his classy gestures to the fans and his interactions with former teammates on the field. He has not…and did not burn any bridges with the Five Stripes.
- At some time in 2018, Miguel Almiron will most likely be sold to a European club with teenage phenom Ezequiel Barco stepping into the attacking center midfielder role for Atlanta. This opens the door for Julian Gressel to fill-in on the flanks full-time to finish out the 2018 season.
- And with a load of cash from the Almiron deal, a player in Asad, who never finds his groove in DC, and an off-season opening in the Atlanta wide midfield…Yamil Asad does not sign long term with DC and Atlanta work their Five Stripes’ transfer magic to bring Yamil Asad back home to Atlanta in 2019 on a three-year guaranteed deal.
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The Asad story will have a happy ending for all the Atlanta United faithful. Asad will be back in Five Stripes for 2019… just be patient and let it all unfold. MLS can be a league of surprises but I’m calling this one right now.