Rob Valentino’s Atlanta United took the fight up to the nation’s capital in the first of two road matches in a short span, winning a feisty 1-0 against D.C. United. The first half was a fairly mundane affair with both teams sitting on around .3 expected goals going into the locker room, but each side had their moments in the attack. Valentino set up the squad in a balanced manner which allowed the likes of Daniel Rios and Xande Silva to get forward, while letting the youthful defensive energy of Noah Cobb and Efrain Morales be tempered with the experience of Derrick Williams and Dax McCarty. It all turned out well and here are the final whistle thoughts from Washington D.C.!
Y’all didn’t get the 2’s memo?
Had D.C. United done their homework and watched Luke Brennan’s masterclass against Houston, they’ve would’ve known those boys from Atlanta United 2 aren’t to be trifled with. Noah Cobb had his hands full against Christian Benteke in the first of the two matchups between these two teams this season, but it also wasn’t fair that he was thrown to the wolves against one of the best aerial attackers in the league. Rob Valentino got it right in this one, allowing the lanky Efrain Morales a spot in the lineup to help quiet Benteke while Noah could use his athleticism and IQ to assist Derrick Williams and assist Morales when needed.
For Efrain’s part, he played fearlessly…again. He made a diving challenge early in the match against someone’s right ear hole and set the tone that D.C. didn’t need to waste time trying to screw with Atlanta’s right flank. Just like in the Chicago match, Efrain had a game that continued to prove his maturity, and Atlanta fans should be excited that both he and Cobb are developing in such a manner. That back line bent but never broke.
Add a goal to that and it’s a recipe for an away win.
Road trips
This may not be the right time in the season to bring this back up, bit if you’ve ever listened to our show you’ll know that I think the “It’s hard to win in MLS on the road” is a lazy excuse. I’m not denying the numbers – I get it – but that mentality should never exist within the landscape of this team. Every game needs to be “We will win this match. Period.”
That’s why Rob’s words in the Houston post-match conference rung heavily for me. “Bring it on,” he said.
Atlanta didn’t shy away from playing their game in this one, and though the match was relatively mild, Almada’s golazo set the necessary tone for this team to go on the road and handle business in the grittiest way possible. Was it a masterclass? No, but it was a win and that’s. What. Freaking. Matters.
Mentality and intangibles are a hell of a thing.
I don’t have a ton other to say right now – I will throughout the week – but this three points is massive. It partially comes from a manager stepping up and saying what needed to be said publicly during a press conference. That’s not a knock on Pineda at all, but sometimes it’s a completely valid strategy for the manager to call out poor results and to put that extra pressure on the squad for not living up to their expectations. A gritty win is a testament to the mentality Rob brought to the team for this match, and it’s a huge W.
Let us know in the comments what you thought of the match!
This game encapsulates why I hate the u-22 initiative. Nary a u-22 in sight outside of Almada who is also a DP, and our 5 academy guys (with others on the bench) claw out a win.
Its tough because I see how the u22 thing could be valuable for the league, but I think our academy is too strong to make it make sense for us. Yet the way that the cap is structured, we almost have to use it. Which I think adds subconscious pressure to play those players in order to develop those guys at the expense of our own.
Who do we start instead of Almada this weekend against St. Louis? In the post-match press conference, Valentino talked about how competitive the trio of Fortune, Dax, and Muyumba have been for those two spots in the starting 11. Does he roll out the three of them together or do we see Firmino or Gallardo?
Dax isn’t a long term answer. Garth, Boca and Valentino need to be on the same page here. Is the priority to make the playoffs now, as in this season, above most or all other considerations? Then maybe Dax playing more is the solution. If the upper guys think the season is basically lost AND they tell Valentino that it’s OK and useful to play the kids to see what they can do, then maybe we will see some younger players. I remain concerned that the whole “Valentino is competing for the full time job” thing, which I do actually agree with, gives him a huge incentive to play less risky vets, like Dax, because they are known commodities and the kids could be a lot better or a lot worse. If they are worse, the team is going to lose and Valentino could be out of the running for the job. So we really need management to get on the same page here, whatever that is and even if they don’t tell us what that is.
Because of the limitations of MLS temporary contracts, I don’t think Gallardo will be given serious consideration for playing in MLS this year. Maybe he plays part of 1 match, but that will be all.
I would assume they go with Firmino without the ability to roam and play more of a traditional attacking MF
We really struggled to connect on passes in the final third. I’m not sure if it was the lack of some of our key guys (Giako out and Saba on NT duty), or trying something new under Valentino or just being flat (or some combo of the above). The final combinations just weren’t there. The upside is that it looked like we were getting the ball further up the field before the missed passes occurred. We seemed less hell bent on possession (actually had the short end of the stick there, 45-55). There were some potentially major mistakes made playing the ball into risky/dangerous positions but our CBs and Guz really did well to clean them up. They also managed to keep Benteke in check after he abused us previously. I’m still not sold on Valentino as a long term solution, but 2pts in 2 games without some key guys isn’t bad. Sure, the competition hasn’t been all-league, but AUFC wasn’t exactly bagging results against bad teams under Pineda, either.
we also traditionally play 3 attacker on top (not counting Almada roaming), but yesterday we played with 2 attacker on top to run 3 CBs, so there was definitely more focus on the defense to shut down Benteke. That might have actually helped Almada play the hero ball for the goal.
One bright spot in the final third was Wiley’s back-to-back runs to the end line with pinpoint cutbacks to the penalty spot. That is what has been missing for him and what he does so well when he has room to attack. If Silva’s shot hadn’t been blocked and Muyumba and Lennon hadn’t been in the same spot for the second ball, either of those could have been goals for us.
I am curious to see these attacking tactics with Thiare at the 9 from the opening whistle. He has a great work rate in the defensive press and finds ways to get into dangerous positions to receive the ball.
that was one ugly, messy match to watch! and i’m not bagging on our guys. both sides were sloppy but physical and energetic. the announcers were talking about what horrible shape the pitch was in, and while it looked “fine” on the broadcast, you could really see the effects of balls and boots sticking, messing up rhythms, shortening passes, screwing with timing. at times it looked more like a rugby scrum than a soccer match.
that being said, i think rob got his tactics right, and mostly personnel as well. i think i would have rather seen brennan start with rios over xande, but the rest (imo) was spot on.
cobb and morales performed very well against one of the best strikers in the league. a few mistakes but then, they also covered up mistakes from a few others (looking at you lennon).
and i know the goal would have been disallowed for offsides, but guz’s save on the point-blank benteke header was a huge emotional lift for the team in that moment.
I thought the pitch looked horrible on TV. Sand kept kicking-up as the players ran. Solid-ish win and we looked disjointed at times but DC is not a good team. Almada needs to develop a leaders mentality when it comes to interacting with the refs.
Meanwhile, Hibbert started his first match for Birmingham Legion and earned a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Machop Chol and San Antonio.
Brad Guzan masterclass. Efrain Morales, Derrick Williams, and Noah Cobb masterclass.
They were quite good last night. Morales seems like he has huge potential with his height. He could do with a bit more size/strength, but that will come. He’s certainly not afraid to mix it up with bigger players.
Formation for one, we neutralized Benteke w/ 5-3-2 and our boys played their butts off, Wiley/Morales/Cobb these kids looked like seasoned vets. Williams/Dax played amazingly well, Guz was sharp and Almada was blah until he scored a Maradona like goal, check the highlights you’ll love it.
I didn’t see the game, so I’ll just ask you all: how did we win this one on the road while getting absolutely embarrassed by the same team at home? What was the difference?
The difference was that frankly, DC looked listless and we effectively boxed out Benteke. DC is a one trick pony, and the 3 CB formation neutered them
Once Benteke was essentially neutralized, DC was fairly tame. Atlanta came in with a game plan and DC did not adjust away from that game plan
Matt5931 and schyoo are quite right, and I gave them both up votes, but one thing stuck out for me that you can probably relate to, Blue Spark. Sometimes we have those matches where our guys will kick the ball and it will go too high or too wide or they’ll put one on the net in a great location, but some defender happened to be nearby and made an incredible play to knock the ball away. Then the other team will shoot wildly from distance it will go in at a corner where Guz couldn’t possibly make a save. That was kind of last night. DC had some tries but many were wildly off and the good tries either had a Guz save or some defender like Williams was there to save the day. We got one hugely lucky strike from distance to score and win. It was nice to see this kind of thing happen to another team for once.
i agree w/you except the ‘lucky goal” part there’s only a hand full of MLS players that could have duked those guys drive and curl one into the net, thats pure talent and skill.
Tactically, this game Valentino had Derrick Williams available, which Pineada just East smart enough to manage.
We had three competent CBs with one a solid veteran leader. That kept Benteke under control which pretty much guts DC.
As for our game plan it was significantly worse. We had fewer chances, and those chances were of lower quality. We are lucky that Almada hit a shot that he’s missed at least a dozen times this season; the most fair result is a 0-0 draw but a few brilliant individual moments went our way for once.
Very jazzed – GG , stian , Slisz , Saba gone – a bunch of dudes playing wherever the coach put them and trying their best – super ugly and according to the stats we should have gotten our butt kicked but … +3
Super stressful , especially the last ten minutes but I enjoyed walking the tightrope tonight
Valentino : 2 ppg … like a boss
I like Rob’s no BS approach mentality to coaching. I don’t know if he is the long-term answer, but I like him much better than Pineda – he keeps it simple, demands the players fight and earn their pay, is firm, seems fair, and has proven he is effective.
I don’t think he’s the longterm answer for the same reason I didn’t think GP was. I think for a club that brings in high price, “superstars”, you need a coach that has a certain degree of “I’ve done more than you” to really command and control and get the best out of your players. It’s slightly different with Almada in that he’s so young that he and Rob may develop a good relationship. But I think GG in particular suffered under GP as I have to imagine he always viewed him as not being his equivalent
Also worth noting that FdB was run out of town for playing boring…I mean “gritty”… soccer.
I think you and Rightwing are right in that as Rightwing noted we need the play hard approach and you noting that that isn’t always enough. It always annoys me to think a professional athlete not giving everything but it’s naive to think that doesn’t happen. We need someone who can adjust to the on field situation and that’s what got Pineda IMO. DC didn’t adjust to our game plan and they lost. To be honest they did have several late attempts snuffed out by Guz.
I’m hoping that Garth gets a guy who both demands hard play and can adjust tactics depending on the situation they are facing. I don’t see how that’s so hard but after Tata we seem to fall on our face in picking coaches who either bore us to sleep and not listen to his team, get a coach who’s trying to conserve water for whatever reason, to getting an assistant who is locked into a system that must be adhered to. Maybe with Boca being limited to input this time we hopefully will get it right.
I agree 100% we dont need a coach that brings ” his style’ each game is different each half needs adjustments, RV def gets it < I not advocating him for head coach> but after what Benteke did to us he cam out w/ a 5-3-2 morphed into 3-5-2 and shut the big guy down, we withstood the storm after the goal and got 3 huge road points. Great job by club and coach.
It’s interesting that Rob gets better results with the same guys after two different coaches. That’s something that Garth needs to identify as why. Not saying Rob should get the job but obviously he’s has something that the coaches he replaced did not have.
And fight they did ! Morales n Wiley were in beast mode ,,,wow
Almada to miss Sat’s match due to yellow card suspension. Brutal.
I’m fairly certain he’s gone for the Olympics anyway
I think you’re confusing the Oympics schedule with Copa America, which starts today. Olympic soccer doesn’t start until July 24.
What a match, our kids are really growing up before our eyes with GG gone I think “tank” is a good name for Morales. Cobb solid, Williams n Dax mature and good. Wiley was pushing everyone around like F this ! Almada was blah until he wasn’t a Maradonaesque golazo my goodness and wait for it we closed it out !!! Guz looked invigorated I can go on 3 points happy camper. Our goal should be win one of the cups to get into Champions 2025 get into playoffs for some experience and it’s ok if we get bounced early. Sign Gallardo n #9, it’s amazing how good hope feels like.
Almada can help us advance in the US Open Cup on July 9 against Indy Eleven. All we need is three wins in that tournament and we’ll have our second US Open Cup and a 2025 CONCACAF bid.
Won’t he be in Paris…?
Olympics isn’t until the end of July, at best Wiley and Almada will leave around the 20th, maybe the 17th at the earliest
That’s only give the teams less than a week break / camp?
Gritty, hard-fought, tough, brave, and bold win. Morales should get many MANY more minutes and should be starting in the games where we need him due to injuries and to give Stian or Derrick rest.
he definitely did his job to become Benteke’s shadow whenever he got close to the box or in the box
MLS!
This was a team win. The whole group was putting their bodies on the line to hold on to this clean sheet. No, it wasn’t pretty but a team featuring 5 homegrown players shut down the player that absolutely embarrassed us at home not that long ago. Wiley and Morales had great games and Almada pulled magic out of nowhere for a couple of great individual efforts.
And frankly, the right move to shift to a 3-5-2