Double game weeks are back on the menu.
Unfortunately for an Atlanta United side trying to turn a corner, they’ll both be road trips, starting with tonight’s Juneteenth visit to the nation’s capital as the Five Stripes seek vengeance against D.C. United (4-7-7, 10th in East) for last month’s 3-2 defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta (4-8-5, 13th in East) had an up and down start to the interim Rob Valentino era last weekend, conceding early and then clawing back to take the lead before giving it away at the end to draw with Houston 2-2. Thus, Atlanta United still has only one win in their last twelve league matches, and will remain without a home victory since March 31st.
It’s about the time of year where a continuation of poor results means you may have to seriously look at laying the cards down and folding, using the remainder of the year to try to better your hand for next season. But as Garth Lagerwey is surely well aware, wilder things have happened. In July of 2016, the Seattle Sounders sat in last place in the Western Conference, and just fired head coach Sigi Schmid, handing the reigns to interim Brian Schmetzer. The club then brought in some guy named Nico Lodeiro, and months later lifted the first MLS Cup in the club’s history. Is it likely? Absolutely not. Possible? Sure, why not?
Still, Atlanta faces a slew of absences due to injury and international competition, taking out the likes of Saba Lobjanidze, Batrosz Slisz, Luis Abram, and Edwin Mosquera. Stian Gregersen is listed as questionable on the latest report, which would be a major help to an backline faced once again with Christian Benteke, who scored a hat trick against a Gregersen-less Atlanta defense last time these sides met.
Kickoff from the Audi Field is set for your typical 7:40 PM ET start, with streaming provided for *FREE* on Apple TV with an Apple ID to log in with. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
Before then, head down to the match thread in the comments below to discuss the pre, during, and post-match action as the Five Stripes seek out an important victory once again.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
D.C. United’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Kickoff Time: Wednesday, June 19th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (free with Apple ID)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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Notes…
1) Thanks Rob V.
1A) Almada fantastic finish
2) Clutch defense by Guz and DW
3) Far too many unforced giveaways throughout the match.
If this team could clean #3 their m they’d be ok defensively. Then they need to focus on finishing.
That was an ugly ass game, but I’ll take 3 points any way they’ll come.
Still haven’t decided which was more clutch, save by Guz on Benteke header or Williams diving in front of that late shot
Man, we make things at the end way too stressful. Just shoot ourselves in the foot trying to close games out.
I’m not sure the boys know they’re supposed to keep possession and draw fouls, lol
Must be from the same disease that makes them allergic to take it to the corner flags.
+3 !!!!
Haven’t been able to say that in a long time 😍
Well we are currently in playoff position
Guuuuuz!
Guz continues to save our ass all season long
Almada!!!
Well Almada woke up.
Hero ball for a goal – I will take it at this point
He had to — everyone else was standing around watching him.
Xande “too many touches” silva
Brennan? Anywhere?
Also very curious why he’s not out there yet
We decided to overcompensate by having three guys in the same place in the box.
Tough to watch.
I wonder if Rios understands what he’s supposed to be doing out there
I would say he has no chemistry with Almada, but that would imply anyone on the team showing they have good chemistry with someone else.
Yeah, no need to have anybody looking for a rebound. Just stand where you are.
Almada looks checked out.
Teddy KDP? “Pay the myan his myoney.”
I was hoping Valentino would have us play more direct and fast, but this team is still completely lost offensively.
We balance it out by being lost defensively.
You take it! No, you take it. No, you take it! Why me? You take it!
Not sure what’s uglier, the game or the field.
I do. The field’s fine, relatively speaking.
Almada must have said something super harsh and short for Almada to get a yellow…and now he is going to miss the match on Saturday…
I imagine that’s what Almada wanted.
He’s gone after this game for Olympics anyway. So he was never going to be there on Sat
What is it that’s popping up from the field? White rubber pellets? It’s very noticeable
We usually see this kind of thing with turf fields, like MBS, where it’s a drainage layer under the turf. Audi Field is a natural grass field/pitch so maybe they are using some kind of drainage layer under the grass and that’s it.
No expectations besides the fact that we won’t be very good unless 2023 Almada shows up.
Atlanta announced two short term contracts, Edwards and Gallardo. Just as I expected. I also expect Gallardo will get into one of the two matches and this is the last time we can sign Edwards to a short term contract so I would think he gets into one of the two matches.
I could see Edwards being a good option to help our backline against Benteke. He’s tall and athletic, and allows Lennon to move up to a WB or RW role.
I also saw that this is the last time we can use the short term contract with Edwards, so I would assume he plays either today and/or Saturday. If he doesn’t play, it would be a massive waste unless the team plans on signing him to a first team deal during the transfer window?
never mind, spoke to late, Cobb at RB, Morales at RCB, and Lennon at RW. Also do we really have no one else that we can carry on the bench that we are carrying two goalies?
I mean, that bench is just pitiful. How is this a professional team with that bench
I don’t think it also helped that Wolff and Gregersen were listed on the bench despite being listed questionable for the match tonight, hopefully both can be back by Saturday for some additional depth
MLS, baby!
You raise a great question and it would be awesome if one the S&S writers (assuming they are allowed to attend the post-game pressers) or AJC Doug would ask that about the bench.
I’d just like to point out that Javier Armas is leading the 2s in goals scored with 5 and we have yet to see him on a temporary contract as best I can tell. Sigh. Stuff like this is why I always accuse the org of giving up on players, particularly draft picks.
I don’t think Atlanta can sign Armas to a short term contract because he might fall under the international slot rule unless he has a green card
i mean…does anyone really have any real expectations at this point? the biggest pieces are: finding the next manager, roster moves (incoming and outgoing), getting minutes for some of the younger players so we know what we have going into next season.
maybe we hit a run and sneak into the playoffs, but i can’t say that in comparison to the things above, sneaking into the playoffs would really have an impact on the club going forward.
beyond that, i want to see rob be a motivator, let the guys play, and see the players respond with 90 minute efforts.
My expectation is another Benteke hat trick.
dude is just a beast in the air
we need to just have someone hug him in the box
Playoffs!?!?
Even if they make it.
I suggest dialing back the “getting minutes for some of the younger players” idea. Why?
1) Brennan didn’t start tonight. Enough said.
2) Valentino is in the running for the manager job. That suggests that he will likely be playing vets to be safe rather than giving risky younger players a chance. Don’t think so? Again, see #1.
3) We’re dressing THREE freaking goalkeepers. Good grief. OK, maybe on Saturday there wasn’t enough time to get around that, but for tonight, no real excuse. Except somebody apparently doesn’t want to sign certain 2s players to temporary contracts. I don’t know who is making the decision though, so another good subject to bring up in a post-game presser. How can continuing to dress 3 goalkeepers be a good idea when we have plenty of kids down on the farm (on the 2s) who have yet to sign temporary contracts?
Make the playoffs!?! Brother, I’ll take two of whatever you are taking for optimism. At this point, I think I have a better chance of getting lucky with Salma Hayek… but at least it’s a ‘chance’ without a flat-out NO 😉