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Atlanta United: Analyzing best performances from 2018 season

By Josh Bouland

ATLANTA, GA NOVEMBER 11: Atlanta's Leandro González Pirez (5) reacts after Miguel Almiron's goal during the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal match between Atlanta United and NYCFC on November 11th, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta United FC defeated New York City FC by a score of 3 to 1 to advance in the playoffs. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA NOVEMBER 11: Atlanta's Leandro González Pirez (5) reacts after Miguel Almiron's goal during the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal match between Atlanta United and NYCFC on November 11th, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta United FC defeated New York City FC by a score of 3 to 1 to advance in the playoffs. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHESTER, PA – JULY 07: Atlanta United Forward Josef Martinez (7) reacts to missing a long pass in the first half during the game between Atlanta United and the Philadelphia Union on July 07, 2018 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA – JULY 07: Atlanta United Forward Josef Martinez (7) reacts to missing a long pass in the first half during the game between Atlanta United and the Philadelphia Union on July 07, 2018 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

July 7 @ Philadelphia Union

Another road win? Check. Another clean sheet? Check. Another goal of the week? Check. Yet again Atlanta dominated on the road, needing a strong performance after their midweek collapse in Dallas just a few days prior. Josef Martinez continued his strong form and Hector Villalba did what he does best: put the final dagger in the other team.

How Atlanta won: Martinez scored (again) in the 58th minute on a penalty. It was his league leading 18th goal of the season and his fourth of the season against Philadelphia. Villalba scored on a wonderful team goal that eventually won goal of the week. The defense also showed out, notching their sixth clean sheet of the season.

Dominance all around: The team’s goal of the week really speaks for itself. All of the team’s biggest stars got involved in the play. Ezequiel Barco found Miguel Almiron in the midfield. Almiron turned and found Martinez at the top of the box. Martinez laid it off for Almiron who then found Villalba across the box for an extremely impressive team goal. The team also showed mental toughness. They had opportunities to score in the first half but could not capitalize on those opportunities. It took patience for Atlanta to turn things around in the second half and take the three road points.

Bigger picture: In a vacuum, the game itself was dominant and impressive. In the bigger picture, this game was extremely important. Atlanta had just phoned in one of their worst performances of the year in Dallas, collapsing in the final ten minutes of a game they spent mostly in control. They rebounded flawlessly against Philadelphia, showing they could move on from an awful performance and stay strong mentally and take care of business.

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