Written by Derek Robbie
Atlanta United and Toronto FC tied 2-2 in a playoff-like match. Both teams look ready to take on what the MLS Playoffs have in store.
Atlanta United started the first few minutes with their collective foot on the gas. They nearly had the ball in Toronto’s half for the first five minutes of the match. Atlanta’s first chance of the contest fell to left wingback Chris McCann who ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that went just wide of the goal. Additionally, every time Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore touched the ball the boos started raining down from the Atlanta fans. They both were most likely booed for being a part of the United States Mens National Team squad that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. “I don’t share the opinion that those players should be booed,” said Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino. “The players don’t deserve it. The players just try to do their best. And to be honest, I didn’t really expect that from our crowd.” By the 15th minute Toronto FC had settled down and found their way back into the match. A few half chances fell to both forwards, Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. Although, neither could capitalize on their chances. Altidore found his way behind Atlanta’s back 3 a couple of times, but he was offsides twice in the span of five minutes. The next memorable moment of the game came in the 28th minute when the referee went to Video Assistant Referee, or VAR for short, several minutes after the incident occurred. So, the ref was reviewing whether one of the Toronto center backs hit the ball with his hand intentionally. After several minutes reviewing the play, the referee awarded Atlanta United with a penalty. The Five Stripes’ winger, Yamil Asad stepped up to the spot and slotted the penalty into the bottom corner to give his side the 1-0 lead. United was firmly in control for the final 15 minutes of the first half. Atlanta’s Josef Martínez saw numerous half chances fall to his feet, but in the end, he could not take advantage of them. The beginning of the second half was similar to the first half because the Five Stripes seemed to be playing at a different pace than Toronto FC. The best opportunity for United fell to winger Héctor Villalba when his teammate, Julian Gressel played him through. Villalba rifled the shot from outside the box on the right side that was blocked by an opposing defender. In the 60th minute, Toronto FC’s center back played a beautiful ball over the top of United’s back line to Altidore. Altidore hit the shot first time on the half-volley to place it in the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Only 14 minutes later, in the 74th minute, Atlanta United’s Villalba whipped a cross into the six-yard box where superstar Josef Martínez was there pass it into the back of the net. Martínez’s goal gave United a 2-1 lead with only 15 minutes remaining. In the 81st minute, Giovinco was fouled by Atlanta’s captain Michael Parkhurst about 30 yards out. Parkhurst got injured on the foul, and was forced to be substituted. In the 84th minute, Giovinco hit the free kick with the perfect combination of power and placement, putting it in the top left corner to beat Guzan. Giovinco’s wonder strike tied the match at 2-2. Due to drawing the match 2-2, Atlanta United will host Columbus Crew this Wednesday or Thursday evening in the first round of the playoffs. The exact date will be released within the next 24 hours. “I think the draw was fair,” said Martino. “The way the game went, and the way the two teams played I think a draw was a fair result.” Atlanta United Starting XI: [G] Brad Guzan; [D] Julian Gressel, Michael Parkhurst (C), Jeff Larentowicz, Anton Walkes, Chris McCann; [M] Héctor Villalba, Kevin Kratz, Carlos Carmona, Yamil Asad; [F] Josef Martínez. Toronto FC XI: [G] Alexander Bono; [D] Chris Mavinga, Drew Moore, Steven Beitashour; [M] Justin Morrow, Victor Vázquez, Michael Bradley (C), Marco Delgado, Jonathan Osorio; Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco
Writer - Derek Robbie
Atlanta United face off against a red-hot Toronto FC this Sunday evening at 4:00 p.m. EST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. The match takes place on Decision Day 2017, also known as the final day of regular season matches.
Although United has already clinched a playoff berth, there is still plenty on the line. Atlanta United are chasing for the second seed and a first-round bye as they host Toronto, who has already been crowned as the Supporters Shield winners. The most recent matchup between these two sides, it ended in a riveting 2-2 draw, and this game looks to be just as exciting as Toronto wish to beat the all-time single-season point record and Atlanta tries to guarantee a home playoff game. Attacking midfielder Julian Gressel touched base on the task at hand and said, “They’re very good individually, but I think they’re even better as a team. They play together, and they’re very accustomed to the style that they play, and they’re good within the system they play.” Even though the Five Stripes have a chance to get the number two seed, there are many factors that need to take place for it to happen. United needs to beat Toronto while needing NYCFC to lose or draw against Columbus, and they also need Chicago to lose or draw against Houston. Additionally, if NYCFC ties, they would be even on points with United, as well as even on the first tiebreaker, which is regular season wins. The second tiebreaker, which is goal differential, would then go to Atlanta. So, it is safe to say that the second seed is not entirely in Atlanta’s control. To get the third seed, Atlanta United would need to win and have either NYCFC or Chicago to lose or draw, instead of requiring both to lose or draw as is the case for the second seed. However, if the Five Stripes win Saturday against Toronto FC and no other results go Atlanta’s way, they will end up with the four seed. “We know that we control our own destiny as far as getting third or fourth place, and that’s very important. We want to have a home game if we play in that opening round, and getting a victory ensures that. As long as we take care of our business, whether we finish second, third, or fourth, so be it.” Captain and center back Michael Parkhurst said This match will be a battle between the two highest scoring teams in the MLS this season. Toronto is the only team who has scored more goals this season than the Five Stripes, but they have only kept one shutout in their last 11 road games, conceding 16 goals in that time period. Therefore, Sunday will be an excellent opportunity for Atlanta United to use their home form to their advantage against the best team in the league as they look to ensure at least one more game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium this postseason. More than 70,426 tickets have already been sold for Sunday’s match, and it is the club’s second record-setting attendance of the season. So, make sure to tune in to this matchup of MLS giants on Sunday.
Atlanta UTD Communications
ATLANTA, GA. – Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez was voted the Alcatel MLS Player of the Month for September. Martinez also won the award for March, making him the only player to receive the recognition twice this season.
Martinez scored nine goals, recorded two hat tricks and helped lead Atlanta to a 5-0-2 record during the club’s seven-game stretch in September. Atlanta clinched a playoff spot and currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference. The Venezuelan striker opened the month with a goal in Atlanta’s 3-0 win over FC Dallas in the club’s first match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He then scored three first-half goals in Atlanta’s 7-0 win against the New England Revolution on Sept. 13. Martinez followed that performance with a second-straight hat trick, becoming just the third player in league history to do so, in Atlanta’s 3-3 draw against Orlando City on Saturday, Sept. 16. in front of an MLS record-breaking crowd of 70,425 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He added two more goals over the club’s final four games to bring his tally for the month to nine. The 24-year-old has now scored 18 goals in just 18 games (15 starts) and is currently fourth in the MLS Golden Boot race, trailing Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic by three goals. Martinez is averaging 1.19 goals per 90 minutes in his first season in MLS. Atlanta returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 15 against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena (5 p.m. ET, FS1), before hosting Toronto FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. ET. The Alcatel MLS Player of the Month is voted on by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications. ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED Atlanta United brings Major League Soccer to the southeast for its 2017 inaugural season. Early in its first year, the club has broken the MLS record for season ticket sales with more than 36,000 sold and has set several league records in average attendance. Owned by one of the city’s most influential businessmen and philanthropists, Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United opened the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 10. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.
Atlanta UTD Communications
Guzan and Martinez join respective countries for final 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
ATLANTA, GA. – Atlanta United announced today that two players have received international call-ups for the upcoming FIFA window. Brad Guzan (USA) and Josef Martinez (Venezuela) have each been called-up to represent their respective countries for matches from Oct. 5-10 Guzan, 33, has started 12 games for Atlanta since joining midseason, leading the club to a 6-1-5 record over that span. He’s posted seven clean sheets to go along with a 0.67 goals against average – which leads all of MLS. He’s also posted a 81.6 save percentage, which leads the league (minimum of two games played). With the U.S. Men’s National Team, Guzan has 57 caps with his most recent on the road against Honduras where he helped the USMNT secure a massive point in a 1-1 draw during a World Cup Qualifier on Sept. 5, 2017. Currently in fourth place in CONCACAF, USA plays Panama on Friday, Oct. 6 and Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Martinez, 24, has appeared in 18 games for Atlanta United this season with 15 starts. The forward has scored a team-high 18 goals and is only three behind the league-lead. Over Atlanta’s recent six-game home stretch where the team went 5-0-1, Martinez scored nine goals. With Venezuela, Martinez has 40 career appearances and has scored nine goals, including five in World Cup Qualification. Venezuela hosts Uruguay on Thursday, Oct. 5 and travels to Paraguay on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Atlanta United returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 3 to finish the season series with fellow expansion team Minnesota United. Atlanta defeated Minnesota 6-1 at TCF Bank Stadium on March 12 and will now host the return trip at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED Atlanta United brings Major League Soccer to the southeast for its 2017 inaugural season. Early in its first year, the club has broken the MLS record for season ticket sales with over 35,000 sold and has set several league records in average attendance. Owned by one of the city’s most influential businessmen and philanthropists, Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United opened the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 10. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD. |
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