An unbeaten three game run has marked the beginning of Rob Valentino’s second stint as interim manager of Atlanta United (5-8-6), and now the Five Stripes come home in search of their first win in Mercedes-Benz Stadium since March 31st.
A four point week from two road trips against D.C. and St. Louis has brought Atlanta up from near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 13th to a Wild Card playoff position at 9th, but are only separated from 15th place Chicago by merely 3 points.
Three points also separate Atlanta from tonight’s opponent, Toronto FC (7-10-3), who sit just one place above at the 8th position in the table, with one more game played. Toronto enter on the back of a five match winless and three match losing skid, falling 4-1 to Chicago, 2-1 to Nashville, and 3-0 to the Red Bulls over the past couple weeks.
The Five Stripes previously came away on the losing end of a meeting at BMO Field in the second match of the season, which took place smack in the middle of an international window and left Atlanta without many of its international stars. Atlanta will still be missing a couple due to the ongoing continental competitions, namely Saba Lobjanidze and Luis Abram, as well as Edwin Mosquera with a knee injury. Otherwise, Bartosz Slisz is back, and Thiago Almada will still feature despite being in the midst of an ongoing transfer saga. Could this be his curtain call at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
Kickoff from the Benz is set for your typical 7:40 PM ET start, with streaming coming from Apple TV with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
Before then, move on down to the match thread in the comments below to discuss the pre, during, and post-match happenings as Atlanta look to continue climbing the ranks of the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Toronto FC’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff Time: Saturday, June 29th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass Subscription)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
If you enjoy the coverage we’re providing, why not consider supporting us on Patreon? We have three tiers — $1.17/mo, $5/mo., and $10/mo. — and all three give you access to bonus podcasts, content, merch discounts, and more. It will also help us continue to “keep the lights on” and raise the bar as we work to provide you with Atlanta United written, audio, and video coverage you’ll enjoy. Click here to support us on Patreon today!
In a lost season, Thiare’s sneak attack goal will go down in ATLUTD history as a shining moment. Build a statue!! He was like a lion stalking prey. Total Backyard Football. I’ll enjoy that moment because the rest of the year is gonna be an ugly slog as players continue to get transferred out.
Wiley will get a suspension for his chokehold BS. I’ve noticed he’s been WAY more purposefully agitating to the opposition. An off-ball push here, a shove in the back there. He seems more in-your-face-aggressive overall. Strategy….steroids…whatever it is, he’s getting even better, but he’s dangerously close to the line. He’ll probably be transferred out this week anyway. Bummer for us.
I doubt he gets a suspension, was reviewed for a red and wasn’t even given. Also, it was a push, definitely not a chokehold.
The other guy was initiating it by not letting go of his jersey, Wiley was professionally not having it and shoved him until he let go.
And that’s why you play until the end of the game !!!!
Hahahahahaha
I didn’t know that was legal. I have never seen that. Wow
Same for me. That’s gonna be talked about for YEARS to come.
I take back my dumb comment that maybe it was a mistake to get Thiare.
He’s great as a backup striker. He was never meant to be our number one
He’s effective as a #2 and should definitely be starting over Rios…
Hahahahahahhahahahha!
Dude there’s no point in shouting at your goalkeeper now
It’s their fault. They are backing up facing TOWARDS their keeper and they can clearly see the guy. Like just a simple “turn around” or “man on” would be sufficient…
I think he was shouting support. Looked like he was yelling “it’s fine”
What the fuck
Wiley lucky to not get a red card. You think given all the theatrics in USMNT vs Panama , he would know better.
My fear is that if the MLS Supplemental Disciplinary Committee decides to look into that shoving – and they may not for all I know – best case scenario is a fine for him, possible worst case is suspension for Wed. night’s match. Him putting his hands on the guy’s throat is flat out a red card offense.
Let’s not waste time by fighting…
Wiley has killed the final 2 minutes of the game… I am so over him
Good thing eintenne is worthless as a soccer player
I can’t believe Shane O’Neill is still in MLS. He played for Orlando in 2018 and 2019 and they declined his last 2 option years because he was terrible. I honestly thought he would end up spending the rest of his career in USL or lower. Well, he’s Toronto’s problem now. Same with Etienne. Having 2 losers like those guys on their roster can’t be a sign that they really know what they are doing.
Well they almost beat us at home so…
Nevermind. I see your point now lol
Can’t believe we are letting Chet Hanks kill us.
Great interceptions by Wiley, less great on the header
Actually it was too high impossible to hit good
Well, don’t run at the guy with the ball if you don’t want to be in pain
Hopefully they’re both okay
And Lennon kills two possessions in a row…
He’s having a bad night
Come on get more people in the box…
I know Rios has the assist, but still wondering why he is starting over Thiarre.
Maybe Thiare has an unannounced knock that isn’t enough to keep him from playing at all but enough to limit his minutes. Could also be that Rob V feels like Rios is killing it in practice and Thiare is doing less there. Given the amount of money we spent to have Thiare on the roster, playing Rios over him without an injury reason makes the decision to get Thiare kind of questionable. Rios’ Mexican team – I forgot who it was – flat out gave up on him and last played him in October 2023.
Great combination play by Silva and almada there
Why wouldn’t Wiley let Guz get that?
54th min, their player is clearly offsides. AR keeps his flag down for God knows what reason and play continues. This whole “keep your flag down stuff” is nonsense. If you’re offsides then you’re offsides.
Jsut rewatched it. They played a deep ball that Wiley misjudged and then when Wiley recovered he got beat and then didn’t put any pressure. But he’s so good so idk how that could happen?
Wow how did he save that
Wasn’t even back in my seat for that goal… what happened?
Son of a b …. I walk to get a beer , give up a goal one minute in … shaking my damn head
Whose fault was this one?
Wiley
Shocked
What happened?
A goal and he kept his shirt on 😆
Saving it for the brace 😁
And looked like he was waving goodbye
There we go! ALMADA!
Nice give and go goal. Feels like forever since seeing that from the team.
Huh, that looked like soccer.
More stoppage time than US got vs. Panama.
That one wasn’t far off
Did anyone else notice the Toronto FC head coach wearing an airpod in his ear? Is that even legal during a match?
I don’t see how that’d be different than a headset wore in other sports
well I can’t imagine airpods being ok’d as league approve communication device just because they have a media deal with apple tv
I’m going to say that since you saw it, that means others saw it. That means the officials probably saw it. Clearly he’s not hiding it. So it must be legal, or perhaps more accurately, not illegal to use it.
I don’t care either way, but it just seems odd that he was using airpods when usually coaches use those random black headsets and usually the assistant coaches or training staff wears the headsets
The goal is the other way Rios
I hate that (almost?) all keepers wear the same jerseys. Even Emi Martinez wears it for Argentina.
I think I have a new nightmare of Gregersen running directly at me.
Why didn’t Wiley attempt to shoot, can he not out dribble a goalie?
That was muyumba
Even more so the , he’s not afraid to shoot
Are the announcers on a delay, or is it just me?
I’ve noticed too.
lol at whoever is screaming directly into the mic
Better to be lucky than good
Offsides VAR decisions shouldn’t require the center ref.
Nor should they take 6 min
Totally open – we had 5 dudes in the box , they had 3 – why was he open?
Whoever was trailing him just stopped. Idk who it was
Why did the guy who was trailing him just stop and leave him wide open. Who was that?
Number 32 I think
Brooks Lennon caught sleeping and nowhere close to his man. I see zero ways we score tonight. Our team is completely devoid of offensive talent
We desperately need a striker. But armada will be gone by the time we have one and then we’ll need a attacking midfielder
We are definitely taking higher risk/higher reward forward passes rather than possession for possession sake
Oh look it’s Rios. Please don’t have a repeat of last week
We’re 18 min in and by God is he bad. Like, he’s just a bad soccer player
Almada looks even more bored and listless in warm ups; shows he’s got one foot out the door
He always looks bored and listless in warm-ups. I bet he balls out tonight
Nicely done lol
why are we still keeping 2 goalies on the bench? Did Edwards pick up a knock during the week?
The Athletic is reporting that Chelsea is in “advanced negotiations” for Wiley but not particularly close to a deal. I’m not providing a link because The Athletic is unfortunately one of those sites that hides behind a paywall for non-subscribers. Any match now could be the final Atlanta United match for both Wiley and Almada.
Nobody actually expects Wiley to play for Chelsea if it goes through. He’ll surely be loaned out somewhere.
Strasbourg per L’Equipe via Fabrizio Romano with potential move to Chelsea in the future.
That’d be great for Wiley! And a head scratcher… I just don’t see the promise with him
Maybe the Italian contingent will be too upset with the loss to the Swiss…
That was even uglier than our loss to panama. And that’s saying something
With this and their performance against Germany, I actually think Swiss have a shot at the final with how weak that side of the bracket is
Vamos Atlanta! I’m cautiously optimistic, which is more than I’ve been able to say in quite some time
I’m just “cautiously”. But I have my jersey on and ready to go! Vamos Atlanta!
Valentino’s presser was very insightful. When asked whether he has asked the team to be more “pragmatic” in their play, he responded by saying he wants them to take what they are given and adjust accordingly. If they can create a chance with 3 passes, no need to take 5 or 6 just for the sake of possession. If the space is available behind, play the ball into the space. It sounds like common sense, but it would seem to implicitly confirm that Pineda prioritized possession over opportunities, not the players (*ahem” Lennon). To my eye, this often led to stopping potential counter-attacks and resorting to the dreaded U-pass across the back line rather than playing a riskier through-ball or early cross into space. I think I’ve seen this new approach in just the last two games, with more open play, more balls over the top, etc.
curious to see if we go back to a back 4 or stay in the 3 CB with wingbacks…offensively, Atlanta doesn’t look very effective in the 3 CB set, especially without Almada
Back 4 would be my guess today. Especially with Williams and Gregersen rounding back into form. I’m guessing Thiare will resume his late game sub role. Rios to start. Thiare seemed to be positionally challenged last match. Teammates were visibly frustrated with him.
What will be interesting though is IF Almada does not play today, foretelling his departure.
well I think the issue with him last week was Atlanta had him play out wide a bit more than usual because they had Rios play the more tranditional role. I don’t think Thiare and Rios can play together unless one play under then other
I think Almada will play and I suspect we’ll do a back 4 due to the points you made above about Greg and Williams healthy