Atlanta United: 5 things we learned from Cincinnati, San Jose wins

2. Tactical battle on Saturday

While Wednesday night saw the Five Stripes attempt to break through a bunker, Saturday presented a completely different challenge. San Jose is under a new coach whose style of play is unique in today’s game. Matias Almeyda employs a defensive man-marking scheme that sees all but one of his outfield players aggressively oppose the opposition.

LAFC provided the blueprint to defeating San Jose’s defensive scheme. Center-back Walker Zimmerman carried the ball into the midfield before finding the right pass to break through some of San Jose’s marking. On Saturday, that responsibility fell to Miles Robinson, who handled the situation well and helped create chances in the first half before a game-altering red card.

Atlanta United also utilized their own high pressing, a tactic not seen that often this season, to disorient San Jose. It worked early as they scored in the fourth minute to jump out to a quick lead. That high pressing eventually dissipated around the 20th minute, though, and once Atlanta took their foot off the gas, San Jose found an equalizer in the 27th minute.

Unfortunately, Cristian Espinoza’s red card in the 34th minute completely changed the match. San Jose had to resort to defending in a bunker as opposed to their electrifying man-marking scheme. Once again, Atlanta needed to work through a bunker to create chances, just as they tried to do a few days earlier against Cincinnati.

The Five Stripes succeeded, thanks to a couple of stellar counter-attacks in the dying minutes of the match. All in all, though, Saturday’s tactical battle was a fun one, with Frank de Boer’s side now proving that they can win in a number of different ways.