And with that, Atlanta United is into the 2023 MLS playoffs, y’all.
Atlanta United put their foot to the gas early against Montreal Saturday evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the Five Stripes looked to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
A first choice staring XI for Gonzalo Pineda took the pitch against Montreal’s back line of five – including our old friend George Campbell – and showed as the much better side for…basically the whole match.
Atlanta had a handful of corners and ratcheted up the pressure on the Canadian club early, mostly pinning them into their own half, with Xande Silva and Saba Lobjanidze operating with acres of space on the wings. Brooks Lennon also found room to operate as he drifted forward from his right back spot, and multiple opportunities just couldn’t quite be placed into the back of the net….until they were. Here are some quick post-match thoughts and reactions.
- This is good. The midweek match against D.C. United didn’t quite go the way it should’ve, but the prime starting XI against a desperate Montreal did the job, and then some. Fans should be excited to see this team in the playoffs. Clean up some defensive mishaps and the post-season should be wild.
- Jamal Thiaré made his first appearance since being signed in the summer and then delayed due to his visa issues. While it’s a small sample size (on top of what we’ve seen at the training ground), he seems to be a solid option as the backup behind Giorgos Giakoumakis, and has even noted in his first press conference that he’s ready to fill that role. His speed and agility were noticeable, especially against tired legs, and he could’ve had a goal of his own after he got in behind Montreal’s defense and forced them to receive a red card.
- Xande Silva’s purchase option needs to happen. It’s not just that he’s been a revelation alongside Saba Lobjanidze and Tristan Muyumba, it’s that the three of them seem to be fitting in with this city and club nicely. Silva has posted a photo of the Benz and captioned it stating that it “Feels like home.”He brings vibes and talent, and has a great personality that is complimenting his fellow attackers well.
The team now has some time to rest after the past three matches in seven days, returning to action up in Philadelphia in a huge match for their playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the rest of MLS will continue to play their games in hand to catch up to Atlanta’s amount of matches played. The Eastern Conference remains tight, with four teams (at the time of this publication) all tied at 49 points for third through sixth place.
Be sure to check out our episode this week as we discuss the match and dive into the what-ifs for the playoff race, and recap all the Atlanta United news!