As Atlanta United and MLS develop deeper knowledge and use of data analytics, we’ll be taking a look behind the curtain at some of the specific stats the club values. In our new weekly content series, we examine one metric provided by StatsBomb that may not stand out on a first watch, but upon closer evaluation, is a useful tool to measure the team’s performance. This is Staying on Track presented by MARTA.
Atlanta United’s 2-1 win over Inter Miami CF on November 2 was memorable for a number of reasons. It was a comeback win. Atlanta United trailed 1-0 and came-from-behind to secure the victory. It was the seventh postseason home win since 2017 in front of the fifth-largest crowd ever in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Most importantly, the result extended the series and continued Atlanta United’s run in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The team will now travel to Fort Lauderdale to face Inter Miami CF for a decisive Game 3 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.
In the 24th minute of Saturday’s match, things really began to open up for the 5-Stripes. The play that started it all was fairly direct. Center back Derrick Williams, the eventual goal scorer, gained possession in Atlanta’s defensive half. The play developed quickly and ended with a dangerous opportunity for Jamal Thiaré on the other end that Miami had to knock out of bounds for an Atlanta United corner kick.
On the proceeding kick, Atlanta United had back-to-back headers. One came from Alexey Miranchuk off the short corner – Saba Lobjanidize took the corner and played it short to Pedro Amador, who served a cross into the box. Williams had the second header, which came shortly after Miranchuk’s, when the group recycled and the ball ended up at Amador’s feet again. The fullback served it into the box, and Williams rose to connect. His header looked dangerous but went wide.
The consecutive headers toward goal this early in the match showed Atlanta United’s promise on what they could accomplish in the game. Although still scoreless, Atlanta United was on the front foot and looking to attack. And, as it turned out, this play on a set piece foreshadowed how Atlanta would later equalize Miami’s opening goal.
In the 58th minute, Atlanta United earned a corner kick. The team was down 1-0 after conceding a goal in the first half. Miranchuk took the corner kick this time but went short again, this time to Saba. The Georgian winger took his defender 1v1 on the goal line and served a high cross into the box that was cleared away by Miami.
Atlanta United collected the rebound and prepared to recycle the corner kick. Jay Fortune hustled over to the loose ball before it rolled out of bounds and dropped it back to Amador. The fullback found some space and teed up his long cross into the box. This time, he struck gold. Williams, still in the area from the corner kick, slipped in between two Miami defenders and dropped to deliver a bouncing header past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
The goal evened the match 1-1, setting up the exciting finish for Atlanta United that would come later in stoppage time. It was the first goal of the season for center back Williams and the seventh assist for Amador in just 12 MLS appearances – including regular season and playoffs – since he arrived at the club during the summer transfer window.
Overall, the match ended up being one of Atlanta United’s best games of the year capitalizaing on set pieces. A set piece is defined as a situation in soccer when a dead ball is put back into play. Besides a corner kick, this can also be a free kick, penalty kick, throw-in or goal kick.
Atlanta United has been near the top of MLS all year for shots and xG from set pieces, and Saturday was no exception. The team took 13 shots on the night and finished with a total 1.7 xG. Nine of those shots came off set pieces. Atlanta’s xG from set pieces was 0.71.
(Remember Saba's volley inside the box that clanged off the crossbar in the 89th minute, very nearly becoming the game-winner? That shot also came off a set piece.)
Atlanta United has, in a way, underperformed on set pieces this season. When we examined Atlanta’s high-quality chances earlier in the season, one area we saw room for improvement was being more clinical on set pieces. While the team has at times created good opportunities from set pieces, they haven't always been able to finish them.
But they connected in a big way on Saturday. Now, they’re looking at a Game 3 at Inter Miami with a chance to take down the No. 1 seed in the conference and continue this joyful Cinderella run in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
