Three is the magic number for Atlanta United this week.
First, the club scored three goals against rival Orlando on Friday. Then, it gained three valuable points in a tight Eastern Conference race with the shutout victory.
And on Monday, three members of the club were given league honors.
Gonzalo Pineda was named MLS Manager of the Week, the league announced. Against Orlando, Pineda earned his first win as head coach in front of a home crowd. It was his second match on the sideline for Atlanta United since the club announced him as its new head coach on August 12.
“It’s not about my first victory,” Pineda said after the match. “It’s about these three points that are valuable for the club.”
Along with Pineda, two players coming off big performances were also given honors. Midfielder Ezequiel Barco was named to the Team of the Week and homegrown defender George Campbell was named to the bench in the league’s weekly honors.
Barco was responsible for two goals against Orlando. He received a ball from Brooks Lennon and dribbled across the box, evading three defenders, to put Atlanta ahead 3-0 in the 72nd minute. He also took the free kick in the 38th minute that deflected off Daryl Dike for an own goal to make it 2-0.
Barco has now scored five goals in MLS this season, a career best.
In addition, George Campbell was included on the bench in the Team of the Week. The defender scored his first career goal on Friday when he took a gamble and came flying forward to head down a ball served into the box by Marcelino Moreno.
“It was amazing,” Campbell said. “Even better because it was my mom's birthday today, and I told her I'd score for her. So it was really amazing for me."
Atlanta looks for three more on Wednesday when it hosts FC Cincinnati at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Click here for tickets.
