By Robyn Saghini // @robynsaghini
Sunday, May 7: 3-1 Loss
I don’t even know where to start with this one. It was not our best game. In fact, it was probably the worst. And the first time we’ve had back to back losses – although I’m sure it won’t be the last. Something is not clicking with the team lately. I have an idea what it could be, but really, I’d just like to blame it on the teeny tiny field in Yankee Stadium.
The one good thing that happened during this game was that Carlos Carmona got his first MLS goal. And it was a stunner.
What. A. Strike.
Carlos Carmona nets his first goal for the 🔴 & ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/40JKaMkBGi
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 9, 2017
So many not so good things, though. I wonder if they’re just struggling because of the lineup changes every week. Between injuries and suspensions, I don’t think we’ve had the same lineup two weeks in a row yet. It’s mostly the same, but with Yamil Asad out suspended (again!) this week, Miguel Almiron was pushed out to the left to cover for him. Almiron is pretty much amazing wherever he plays, but I think the general consensus in ATL is that he’s more natural in the middle.
We did manage to make it out of another game without a single red card – or questionable play that ended in a suspension – but the boys came back from NYC with four yellow cards (Gressel, Parkhurst, Larentowicz, and Mears).
Other than the lineup and fouls, the only other factor was that field. It’s so small. The players just look like they’re tripping over each other. All the games I’ve watched at NYC have seemed that way. They really do have a heck of a home field advantage.
Next Sunday, ATL is away again at Portland. With Portland coming off a terrible loss and having home field advantage, I’m not sure I’m feeling so confident going into this game. I can only hope that with Asad back on the left and Almiron in the middle, the boys will be back on their game. And maybe we’ll have Martinez back from injury????? *Fingers and toes and arms and legs and eyes crossed* Is it sad that I’m really hoping the Timbers Army has a kick-ass tifo for us this weekend, too?
In other news, our Academy boys are killing it for the US teams! Andrew Carleton (aka “Frosted Orange” by his fans) and Zyen Jones tallied a few goals to help the U-17 team qualify for the U-17 World Cup in India. Here’s one of Carleton’s goals:
Classy Carleton đź‘Ś
Atlanta’s own cracking into the #SCTop10 | @andrewcarleton7 pic.twitter.com/q0LaZ4P3W9
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 6, 2017
A few other tidbits:
- Academy player Lagos Kunga was called up to the US U-20 World Cup roster.
- The next home game (vs Houston) on 5/20 is the fourth consecutive sell out game for ATLUTD.
- If you live in the South and/or have Fox Sports South, make sure to watch the ATLUTD Match Week this week; Brittany Arnold did a great interview with Tito Villalba (heart eyes emoji).
Featured image courtesy: atlutd.com
Follow and chat with me on twitter //Â @robynsaghini
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