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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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COMMERCE CITY, CO – SEPTEMBER 15: Darlington Nagbe #6 of Atlanta United reaches to shake hands with teammate Hector Villalba #15 after Villalba’s goal during the first half against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on September 15, 2018 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
COMMERCE CITY, CO – SEPTEMBER 15: Darlington Nagbe #6 of Atlanta United reaches to shake hands with teammate Hector Villalba #15 after Villalba’s goal during the first half against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on September 15, 2018 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

September 15 @ Colorado Rapids

This 3-0 win over Colorado was just what the doctor ordered for the Five Stripes. Atlanta traveled west for this road match against Colorado, with another road match just a few days later against San Jose. Atlanta had to follow those two road matches in four days with a return trip home for a grueling three games in seven days stretch. If there was even an easy win in 2018, it was this one.

How Atlanta won: Atlanta impressively scored three goals in the first half in a 27 minute span. Josef Martinez selflessly assisted Miguel Almiron in the tenth minute to set the tone of the match. Almiron scored again just eight minutes later while Hector Villalba scored in the 37th minute to effectively put the game away.

Dominance all around: The Five Stripes were so dominant that they virtually took their foot off the gas in the second half. The team was content to not push forward and save themselves for their later matches in the week. Darlington Nagbe made his first appearance in nearly three months. His 100% passing in the midfield radiated to every other player on the team and guided the Five Stripes to their dominating outing.

Next. Atlanta United: Analyzing their seven losses from 2018. dark

Bigger picture: Atlanta badly needed to win this first game, knowing they had two more games to play in a tough week. They got the job done, and this win helped propel the Five Stripes to an extremely impressive nine points in seven days. The early scoring also allowed for Villalba and Nagbe to sub off earlier than usual in the second half to save some energy for those later matches.

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