After Saturday win, is Atlanta United back?
For Atlanta United, Saturday’s 3-2 win at Columbus Crew SC might be the turning point of what has been a lackluster season to date.
Or not. But for the sake of argument, let’s say Atlanta United is finally trending in the right direction.
More from MLS Multiplex
- Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
- Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
- USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
- De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
- Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States
It has not been an easy first half of the season for Atlanta United, leading to the dismissal of first-year head coach Gabriel Heinze last month. A team with a bloated budget and expectations, this season’s standing below the red line in the Eastern Conference has been nothing short of a disappointment.
Atlanta United hadn’t won a game since May 15, a stretch of 12 matches where they lost five times. On Saturday night, they beat the MLS Cup holders and did so on the road.
“I would say it’s a start. It’s a start of seeing some things and their hard work coming together,” interim head coach Rob Valentino told reporters after the match.
“I’m so proud of them. It’s been really difficult. This is just a start. It wasn’t always pretty, but sometimes you have to find a way to win like that. Their mentality, their drive and determination to not lose that game was huge.”
This is a team that still has a long way to go in a crowded and dysfunctional Eastern Conference. But a road win, especially against the MLS Cup winners from the season before, is a positive sign. This is a team that, given their individual talent, should be at or near the top of the conference.
If they can put things together at this point in the season, there is no reason to believe that this unit can’t be a top four team in the Eastern Conference.
The win puts Atlanta United at 3-6-9 (18 points) and six points away from a playoff spot.
Atlanta United’s promise
In many ways, it was a typical performance from Atlanta United.
They had the better of possession (54 percent), shots (17:11) and shots on goal (7:3). They were also the more dangerous team through the match.
With the signing of Brazilian winger Luiz Araujo this past week, there is clearly reason for optimism. Plus the return of Gold Cup players such as defenders Miles Robinson and George Bello should help balance this squad.
For the first time in seemingly two years, Atlanta United played the way they wanted to play, holding the ball and stretching the field. They dominated an opponent with possession and got three points on the road.
Perhaps, as the shadows of Heinze’s tenure with the team fades into the background, perhaps Atlanta United is poised to rise again from the ashes of a pretty terrible season to date.
“Being away for this road trip has been really good for this group. We’ve kept the message very positive. We’ve had the right amount of balance of being around each other or giving them freedom,” Valentino said.
“I believe that’s helped them get a little bit closer as a group. That happens when you are on the road and you don’t have any distractions. That coming at this time has been very good. We are proud of what the players accomplished at the Gold Cup, but we are happy to have them back.”