The month of August slipped away before our eyes. With six matches, evenly split with three home and three away, Atlanta was able to add eight points this month. August saw great moments, three first-time goals, a visit from old friends and the first come-from-behind victory of the season. Let’s look back at the top five moments of the month.
The GOATman
August was a big month for Andrew Gutman. After returning from his quad injury, Gutman scored three goals this month including the game-winner against the Seattle Sounders. The wingback went on to score two more goals this month, one against his former team FC Cincinnati and the other against Philadelphia Union. His three goals and defensive plays earned Andrew Gutman our Performer of the Month.
Game Changing Save
Playing away from home is difficult and playing at TQL against FC Cincinnati is always a challenge. On August 13, Atlanta faced FC Cincinnati in a strong matchup. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, seeing goals from Thiago Almada and Gutman, but Rocco Ríos Novo’s performance between the sticks helped secure a point away from home. The save where Ríos Novo dove to the corner of the goal helped the team maintain the draw and also earned Save of the Month.
¡SantiaGOOOAAAL!
Atlanta traveled to Ohio for the second straight weekend to face Columbus Crew. Atlanta came in determined to score first and Santiago Sosa did just that. Off a header from Caleb Wiley in the 21st minute, Sosa took a shot outside the box and landed in the top right corner of the goal. This was the Argentine midfielder’s first MLS goal with the club and earned him Goal of the Month.
Pathway to the Pros
August marks the return to school, the start of the fall and also the beginning of the Atlanta United Academy season. Each year to celebrate the season to come, Atlanta United hosts a dinner at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where past and present ATLUTD Academy players and their families can come together and look forward to what lies ahead of them. This year’s dinner featured speeches from: Arthur Blank, Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra, Academy director Matt Lawrey, Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda and ATLUTD2 Head Coach Jack Collison.
One. Two. Three First-Time Goals
What do Andrew Gutman, Santiago Sosa and Alan Franco all have in common? They scored their first goal with the 5-Stripes in August. Since returning to the club this season, Gutman has gotten close to scoring on many occasions, but his game-winner against Seattle Sounders marked the first time this wingback scored with Atlanta United. That first time goal was only the beginning. Sosa scored his first goal with the league in the 2-2 draw against Columbus. The Argentine midfielder pulled an incredible shot outside the box and earned him Goal of the Month. Last, but certainly not least, Alan Franco scored his first goal with the 5-Stripes in the 3-2 victory against D.C. United. Off a corner kick, Franco found a pocket in the box and headed the goal that helped change the match.
