The Rock-Solid Atlanta United takes on the Red-Hot Philadelphia Union at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Major League Soccer heats up with a fresh slate of fixtures as Atlanta United and Philadelphia Union go head-to-head at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday Afternoon. A fixture that has proved to be a spectacle down the years. Both teams have met 15 times in the regular season where only three games Atlanta United failed to score in. They have a 5-5-5 record and scored 19 times against Philadelphia Union while the visitors have scored only 17 times.
The visitors are coming off a hard fought come from behind 2-1 win over Nashville SC to make it a run of three consecutive games without tasting defeat while drawing their other games since the start of the league. They are the only unbeaten team left in the league and are looking to extend their run.
Atlanta United, too are off to a flaming hot start with three wins and two losses away to Toronto FC. and Columbus Crewe. However, Atlanta United were held to a 1-1 draw by New York City FC at the Citi Field last Saturday. The game saw Atlanta United collecting their first point on the road and scoring their first goal on the road.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the game while sharing possession of the ball evenly NYCFC found a way to go 1-0 up in the first half. In the 39th minute Santiago Rodríguez won a free kick, after being fouled by Tristan Muyumba in the box. As cool as a Polo Bear's nose Santiago Rodríguez then brushed himself off to convert a right footed kick from the penalty spot. The 5 Stripes pressed hard in search of the equalizer, which they eventually got in the 65th minute. Edwin Mosquera whipped in a teasing cross from the right side which found the head of the red-hot Jamal Thiaré who thumped home a thunderous header from the center of the box. The Senegalese has now scored 3 goals from five matches.
Though, getting a few half chances late in the second half where they could claim all three points the 5 Stripes were grateful for the point. Atlanta United now return home, where they have a 100%-win record since the start of the competition, and are unbeaten in their last three outings, claiming three wins, scoring nine goals, and conceding once. With 10 points from 6 matches, the Five Stripes are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, two points behind fifth-placed Cincinati FC, who have played one game more. Philadelphia Union, on the other hand, sits second on the table with 12 points from 6 games after they ran out 2-1 victors in their last game. Plague with the injury bug Atlanta will tackle Philadelphia Union with the services of Jamal Thiaré and Derrick Williams who are both expected to miss two-to-four weeks after suffering injuries in the match against New York City FC. They now join Xande Silva, Georgios Giakoumakis and Stian Gregersen who are still nursing injuries.
Olivier Semmle who is filling in for the injured Andre Blake, failed to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season. The hosts Nashville SC went ahead through Sam Surridge and maintained a commanding first-half 1-0 lead which left the victors rattled. They were however pegged back twice in the second half by Philadelphia Union through some intricate passing and movements on and off the ball to produce two beautiful goals.
Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag form the spine of Jim Cutin’s team. They scored 8 of the 12 goals scored by Philadelphia Union so far. If Atlanta is to get any form of result from Sunday’s game, they will have to keep those two players quiet. This we all know is easier said than done considering their rich vein of form. Among Blake on the injury list is Holden Trent, Isaiah Leflore, Leon Flach, and striker Mikael Uhre. Irrespective of who is on the team sheet the fans in attendance can brace themselves for a treat with tingling taste of a late rally in a 3-2 defeat the last time the two teams match up at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Cobb, Williams, Wiley, Slisz, Muyamba, Wolff, Almada, Lobzhaidze, Mosquera
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Semmle, Lowe, Elliot, Glesnes, Wagner, McGlynn, Gazdag, Martinez, Harriel, Carranza, Sullivan
WHERE TO WATCH THE MATCH:
Fans can tune in on MLS Season Pass Apple TV and FOX/FOX Deportes on Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm ET when the action kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. To hear the action on radio, tune into STAR 94 FM or Sirius XM FC 157 (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).