Atlanta United Vs Chicago Fire: 5 things we learned – Huge, huge win

4. Another MLS start

Atlanta supporters got to see more play time from one of their favorite players as Andrew Carleton made his second career MLS start on Sunday. The young homegrown logged 67 minutes and put in a solid performance as the team had to go without Hector Villalba and Almiron as part of their attacking cohort.

Carleton registered three shots on Sunday, including one that bounced off the post in the 35th minute. If Carleton had scored, the stadium probably would’ve burned down from pure excitement. The 18-year-old also completed 17 passes on 22 attempts and logged three recoveries and a tackle.

Chances are Carleton won’t see the pitch again this year. With Villalba and Almiron injured, and even depth players Romario Williams and Brandon Vazquez, it made sense for Carleton to play. It’s a relatively safe bet that three of those four guys will be back for the final match against Toronto, meaning there won’t be a need for Carleton.

Assuming Carleton is done for the season, it’s worth looking over how he performed this year. Carleton made seven appearances, two starts, logged 161 minutes, notched an assist, and put three shots on goal. Each appearance came with a win, although in his matches as a sub those games were already locked up.

Carleton is developing at a nice pace, especially given his playing time for Atlanta’s USL side, Atlanta United 2. There should be more minutes waiting for Carleton next season, especially as the roster changes during the offseason.