The Five Stripes’ Wednesday night matchup with FC Dallas ended in disappointment, but they have an immediate opportunity to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they travel to Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia Union (6-8-3). Atlanta United (11-4-4) sit at the top of the standings, but with conference rivals nipping at their heels with games in hand, they’ll need to regroup quickly to keep their hold on the East. Meanwhile, Philadelphia are a strong team at home and will be eager to avenge their loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this year.
Make sure to tune in on FOX Sports Southeast or FOX Sports GO on Saturday July 7th at 7:00 p.m. EST. Click here for all the other ways to follow the match.
Atlanta United (11-4-4)
Atlanta United are coming off a tough last-minute loss against FC Dallas on the Fourth of July, but there’s plenty of reason to believe they are ready to bounce back quickly. Before that match they were on a six-game unbeaten run, so their form is strong. And in the seven matches Atlanta United have either drawn or loss this year, they’ve followed up those performances with six wins and a draw, showing their mental fortitude and ability to respond to disappointment.
Leading the way in those wins has been Josef Martinez, whose 17 goals this season is six more than any other player so far this year and is on pace to set the single-season scoring record in MLS. But scorers can’t put them in the net on their own, and the Venezuelan has one of the most fearsome creative trios lining up behind him in Ezequiel Barco, Miguel Almirón and Tito Villalba, who has been a real spark on the right wing since returning to injury, and Julian Gressel continues to thrive in the central midfield role vacated by the injured Darlington Nagbe. Atlanta United has scored eight goals in their three matches against the Union in the team’s history, and with Philadelphia conceding nine goals in their last four matches, the Five Stripes could find vulnerabilities in the Union’s young back line.
While scoring is important, it only equates to wins if the defense is just as solid as the attack is exciting, and that’s been a major key to the Five Stripes’ recent success. Before Wednesday’s match against Dallas, the red, black and gold had allowed just four goals in their six-match unbeaten run in MLS. Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst and Brad Guzan’s veteran leadership continues to be critical, while Leandro González Pirez, Franco Escobar and Mikey Ambrose fill out the rest of a back line that has fought off injuries and suspensions to be a crucial part of the Five Stripes’ league-leading form. They’ll need to prove Wednesday was just a fluke and not a trend to get all three points in a tough environment.
Philadelphia Union (6-8-3)
The Union currently sit below the red line in the race for a playoff spot, but don’t let their position in the table fool you –– this is a complete team from front to back that can take down anybody. And while their form has dipped as of late, they’ll have an extra chip on their shoulder after their nine-man performance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this year.
The focal point in their attack will be league newcomer and attacking midfielder Borek Dockal, one of the hottest players in the league with a combined nine goals and assists in league play since the start of May. Joining him in midfield is one of the strongest central midfield pairings in the league in U.S international Alejandro Bedoya and Bosnian Haris Medunjanin, a key creator in the center of the park. Both of those players were sent off in the match in Atlanta earlier this year and will be eager to get one back on their home turf.
Atlanta United will have to get through one of the best goalkeepers in the league in Jamaican Andre Blake, and to get to him they’ll have to beat a young but promising back line for the Union. Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty and Keegan Rosenberry have an average age of 21 but have shown glimpses of real potential, including an impressive performance down two men in Atlanta this year. But the Union gave up four goals in their last outing against LAFC, so Tata Martino could look to recent tape to see how to best exploit the experience of their back four.
It’s a crucial Eastern Conference match as Atlanta United looks to bounce back from a rare loss against a team with a point to prove. Make sure you tune in on FOX Sports Southeast or FOX Sports GO for the 7:00 p.m. EST kickoff, and for all the other ways to follow the match, click here.
