Happy Tuesday, y’all! Hope your Labor Day weekend was a good one. Jackson here joining you this morning for your Scarves and Spikes newsletter.
The week ahead (or what’s left of it) is shaping up to be a busy one in the Atlanta United world. Tomorrow, the Five Stripes welcome Orlando City for a midweek match in the Benz at 7:30 pm. Then, Atlanta United turns around and heads up to the nation’s capital, where they’ll face D.C. United on Saturday night, also at 7:30 pm.
The double game week comes on the back of Atlanta’s 2-2 draw this past Saturday down in Miami, a major result to earn in a visit to one of the league’s powerhouse squads. The hard earned point was the result of two equalizing goals, first from Miguel Almiron and then from the debutant, Breel Embolo, who scored in the 87th minute from the penalty spot. Edge of your seat defending from Atlanta saw out the result, and keeps the Five Stripes in good spirits heading into the games ahead.
Embolo surprisingly played the full match on Saturday, and instantly made his presence known, taking up plenty of attention from opposing defenders, drawing fouls (sometimes, earning them would be the better term), and not being afraid to take a quick shot himself. It was a breath of fresh air in the attack, and couldn’t have come at a better time.
Hopefully, Embolo has enough fitness at this point to contribute in each of this week’s matches. The minutes will add up fast for the new Designated Player, who will make his home debut tomorrow night. Midfielder Mauricio Amaro came on for over half an hour in his own debut as well in the Miami match, coming on for an injured Cooper Sanchez. Will Amaro also see an uptick in minutes this week as he challenges for a starting role in a crowded midfield?
For today, Atlanta United 2 gears up to welcome Connecticut United to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in MLS Next Pro action. It’s a 5th vs 7th matchup in the Eastern Conference, with only a single point separating the sides in the standings. Look to see if Arif Kovac can continue his elite goalscoring form and help the 2s climb further up the table. That match will kick off at 2 pm, with streaming on YouTube or OneFootball.
Top Story
Atlanta United uses late Embolo penalty, fights back to draw Inter Miami 2-2
Atlanta United’s new man strikes from the spot to score on his MLS debut and help the Five Stripes draw Messi and co. on the road.
Games to Watch
Champions League
- AEK Athens v LASK Linz, 12:45 PM ET
- Club Brugge v Aston Villa, 12:45 PM ET
- Dortmund v Villarreal, 3:00 PM ET
- FC Porto v Man City, 3:00 PM ET
- Lille v Betis, 3:00 PM ET
- Real Madrid v Inter Milan, 3:00 PM ET
Help support independent Atlanta soccer coverage
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows and podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With 2026 being a World Cup year, Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Exclusive interviews, like our recent sit-down with ATL UTD 2 head coach Jose Silva
- Discord access, talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Membership starts at $5/month. New subscribers get a 7-day free trial.
That’s your rundown for today. See you at the next one!