By Robyn Saghini // @robynsaghini
Since the Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened, Atlanta United have been unstoppable. Here’s a rundown of the stats for ATLUTD between 9/10-24:
- 5 home games
- 4-0-1 record
- Have outscored opponents 19-3
- 2 hat tricks by Josef Martinez in back-to-back games
- 4 clean sheets for Brad Guzan
- 3rd place in the Eastern Conference
- Still 2 games in hand vs most of the conference (only playing 1 Western Conference team in remaining 5 regular season games)
Going to a game at the Benz feels like going to a party. The huge tailgates before the weekend games (and slightly smaller ones on weekdays) just enhance that atmosphere. It feels like we’ve done nothing but party for 2 weeks straight.
So many goals to cheer for! NINETEEN GOALS in five games. Eight of those scored by Josef Martinez in the first four games – and back-to-back hat tricks! That guy knows how to put on a show!
When you score two hat tricks in the same week, well…
Another @ALCATEL1TOUCH POTW honor for @JosefMartinez17! https://t.co/tJRYU8nJMO
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 19, 2017
Last Wednesday, Yamil Asad had a great game, too. In a 4-0 drubbing of the LA Galaxy, Asad was involved in all of the goals, scoring two for himself and assisting on the other two. (Also note, the boys now wear suits when they arrive for games. *swoon*)
10-straight unbeaten at home. #UniteAndConquer | @Delta pic.twitter.com/yrwTr1ASRG
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 22, 2017
This Sunday, it was a little of everyone. Tito Villalba scored the first goal – another blast into the top 90 of the goal – which seems to be a sweet spot for him (see: Tito’s winning goal at Orlando City in July).
HOLY TITO!!!! 🚀
Lasers from distance are becoming a habit for @TitoVillalba15 pic.twitter.com/0j9S2BIjxG
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 24, 2017
Worth the wait.
What. A. Goal. #ORLvATL https://t.co/glMYWtwyjA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2017
The second goal was a pass from Julian Gressel into the box that Jeff Larentowicz chested into the goal. It was Larentowicz’s first goal for ATLUTD and caused quite the stir on social media on Monday…
So, .@J_SamJones to get a Jeff Larentowicz tattoo now. How about we raise some money for charity? https://t.co/NiBhYrYa0W
— Dirty South Soccer (@DirtySouthSoc) September 25, 2017
The other big news out of Sunday’s game was Miguel Almiron pulling up with a hamstring injury in the 17th minute. He was visibly upset walking off the field on Sunday and it was announced Monday that he will be out for a minimum of three weeks, which means he won’t be playing for Paraguay next week during the international break and may not be back until the last game of the season (vs Toronto) at the earliest.
With Sunday’s result, ATLUTD are now sitting alone in third place in the Eastern conference, just three points behind NYCFC and with a game in hand. Both teams play this Wednesday (ATLUTD hosts Philadelphia and NYCFC at Montreal).
ATLUTD will finally be caught up next week on games played after a trip away to New England and a home game vs Minnesota United – a game that should have been played in August, but was pushed back due to the MBS construction delays.
Other news of note this week:
- ATLUTD have now scored more goals than any expansion team ever in MLS (63)
- Homegrown players Andrew Carleton, Chris Goslin and Justin Garces were all named on the 21-player roster for the U-17 World Cup in India, being played in October.
- After his double hat trick performance last week, Josef Martinez was named MLS Player of the Week.
- Yamil Asad was named to the MLS Best XI and Leandro Gonzales Pirez was “on the bench” for Team of the Week.
- Kevin Kratz won Goal of the Week last week for his free kick goal vs New England; Tito Villalba’s rocket is up for Goal of the Week this week – and ATLUTD always wins the internet, so don’t be too surprised when Tito wins this one, too.
Featured image courtesy: atlutd.com
Follow and chat with me on twitter // @robynsaghini
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