Tools to the Match: How Atlanta secures three points back at home on Wednesday night 

Finally, Atlanta United is back home. After the longest road stretch in club history with five consecutive matches away from home, the 5-Stripes return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night to take on Chicago Fire FC. The team is coming off two consecutive road draws, with Latte Lath securing the point in Toronto last weekend deep into stoppage time. Atlanta will now look to push on from those draws and re-establish its home form with three consecutive home matches on deck. Chicago has only won one of its last five matches. Both teams are in need of points to get closer to the playoff line as we hit mid-July. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by Home Depot against Chicago Fire FC.

Extend home winning streak

Before Atlanta embarked on this long road trip, it had come off two impressive home victories against FC Cincinnati (4-2) and Orlando City (3-2). All four of Atlanta’s wins this season have come in the friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They will look to extend that home streak on Wednesday night against Chicago. Historically, this has been a very favorable matchup for Atlanta, especially at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 5-Stripes have outscored Chicago 20-4 in seven previous matchups and boast a 7-0-0 record in those previous seven matches at MBS. Atlanta would love to keep both of those streaks in tact come Wednesday night.

Disrupt the Chicago Fire attack

The Fire have had one of the best attacks in MLS so far this season. They rank fourth in total goals scored (40) and in shots on target (120). They have scored two or more goals in 12 of their 21 matches this season. That attack is led by designated player Hugo Cuypers who has tallied 12 goals. He’s a complete striker who can punish you in a multitude of ways. The Belgian has found a running mate this year in Philip Zinckernagel who leads the team with eight assists. He operates mostly down the right flank, so Atlanta’s left-sided defense needs to be ready to win those battles. If Atlanta can cut off the service to Cuypers, it will put itself in a good position to earn three points at home.

Stay focused for 90+ minutes

Latte Lath scored the latest goal in the club’s MLS history this past weekend to secure a point in Toronto. The team showed fight and resilience for the full 90+ minutes and was able to bring a point back home. Now it has to build on that and continue to connect better in the final third. The players showed glimpses in the first half at BMO Field, Latte Lath had one goal called back and one shot go inches beyond the far post, but those have to become more consistent. They have proven that when they create clear-cut, or “big” chances, they convert them. The team ranks eighth in MLS in clear-cut chance conversion at 69.2 percent. They just need to start creating more chances to give their strikers more opportunities to find the back of the net. It starts on Wednesday night against Chicago.

Fans can tune in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET when the action kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. To hear the action on radio, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).

Atlanta United still has two more matches on the road before coming back home for a double match week vs Chicago Fire (July 16 | 7:30 pm) and a thrilling rivalry match up vs Charlotte FC (July 19 | 7:30 pm), where once again the 17s will show why Mercedes-Benz Stadium was named No. 1 Loudest Stadium in MLS by Newsweek. Tickets are still available for both matches.