Atlanta United: Analyzing their gutsiest wins from the 2018 season

September 29 at San Jose Earthquakes

The wackiest game of the season, but perhaps the most important. Atlanta looked absolutely terrible against the worst team in the league, giving up two first-half goals. Thankfully Hector Villalba scored this stunner to pull one back just before the half, but another San Jose goal early in the second half would send Atlanta supporters back into a panic. Thanks to VAR (for once), a San Jose handball negated Chris Wondoloski’s goal, gave Josef Martinez a chance from the spot, and the comeback was on.

How they won: Villalba scored his yearly rocket just before the half to pull one back for Atlanta. Martinez converted a penalty as usual, Almiron continued his scoring touch, and Martinez again scored a second in stoppage time to seal the 4-3 victory. It’s hard to determine which goal was the most important for Atlanta. Villalba’s gave the team confidence before the half, but Martinez’s penalty really swung momentum Atlanta’s way after the VAR call. However, Martinez’s game-winner in stoppage time was brilliant, given the fact Atlanta would’ve probably been satisfied with a draw after such a poor showing early on in the match.

The guts of it all: Atlanta was in the middle of a three-games-in-seven-days stretch that included a road game in Colorado, at altitude, just days earlier. The fact that Atlanta hung in despite going down multiple goals multiple times shows how tough the team played. It may have taken some help from VAR to swing momentum their way, but the Five Stripes never gave up regardless. It took guts from Atlanta to come from behind the entire match just days after playing that high altitude match against Colorado.