Manufacturing momentum is a tall task. The 5-Stripes' win over the weekend in their first home match back from a lengthy break was the kind of result that could do just that.
Instead of staying put, they're right back on the road again, and they'll be challenged with reversing their recent form away from home at Minnesota United. The 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff Wednesday night will be the middle of yet another triple matchweek — three fixtures in the span of eight days to be exact — the second of five Atlanta United will play in the back half of the season.
It'll be a physical trial in an unfamiliar environment, but the 5-Stripes finally have some wind in their sails from the weekend. Carrying that energy over was a topic of discussion for both head coach Tata Martino and Cooper Sanchez when they spoke to media Tuesday.
"The move going into the game tomorrow is go and get another three points and not take our foot off the gas," Sanchez said. "[We can't] be satisfied with those three points, but to keep going and keep building momentum."
Who all is making the trip up north
Off the back of a vital win at home, Atlanta United is right back to the road to play their fifth away fixture in six matches. The 5-Stripes head to face Western Conference foes Minnesota United, and they'll travel with a bigger squad than their previous trips this summer.
Still, Tuesday's availability report from the club lists three players as unavailable, and Martino provided updates during media availability.
Jay Fortune remains out with a hamstring injury, and Will Reilly is listed as questionable with a lingering ankle issue. Mauricio Amaro is still in the process of securing his visa to work towards match eligibility.
The 5-Stripes will get Enea Mihaj back from a red card suspension in the midweek. Paulo Díaz will travel with the team after not appearing in the matchday squad Saturday for fitness reasons, per Martino.
Player |
Injury/Reason |
Status |
Mauricio Amaro |
Visa Process |
Out |
Jay Fortune |
Hamstring |
Out |
Will Reilly |
Ankle |
Questionable |
A warmer Minnesota experience this time around
Martino dug into his memory bank on Minnesota, thinking back to the two matches he coached against the side for Atlanta United in 2017 and 2018. He found a couple of words in English for the media in attendance at his press conference Tuesday.
"The second year was colder than the first year," Martino said.
It's true, Atlanta United has had some famously cold matches against the Western Conference side in their history, namely the ones Martino was there for. Both matches came in the frigid March weather, and the first one happened to be Minnesota United's first ever home match as a club.
Wednesday night's match will be a full-circle moment for the home side. Minnesota is celebrating their 10 years as a club against Atlanta, a landmark that should create quite the passionate atmosphere for a rare East versus West matchup. This time around, highs in the 80s will feel much, much more like what Atlanta is used to.
Minnesota haven't scored more than one goal in an MLS match in eight attempts, but they have a variety of different options up front to work with. The Loons' leading goalscorer Kelvin Yeboah didn't start over the weekend, which might line him up fresher for a midweek match. Their top assister, Joaquín Pereyra, has three goals in his last two matches in all competitions, all assisted by blooming super-sub Marcus Caldeira.
Atlanta's engine of productivity recently, on the other hand, has actually been their midfield. Between a stellar debut from Adrian Gill, a Man of the Match peformance from Tristan Muyumba and all-around energy from Sanchez, Atlanta United won on the margins despite conceding the majority of possession.
"It's just the understanding of each other," Sanchez said of the midfield. "We're always together in training, and we're all technically competent, so we know how to play with each other ... always looking for each other. It's ultimately gonna help the team."
Martino wants his side to be the one to step up when adversity strikes, and he saw that against Red Bulls after conceding early.
"I think it’s an important trait for any team that when you have a squad that has a clear idea, there is no reason for the circumstances of the game to lead them to change it," Martino said in Spanish. "In any case, if something has to be changed, it should be changed based on something that has been trained and prepared."
Two teams who have scored the same amount goals this season, 21, will square off in what may be more of a calculated defensive battle than 10 seasons ago — a far cry from the 6-1 scoreline in Atlanta's favor back in 2017. The winner, like Saturday night's matchup at MBS, very well may be the one that takes hold of the brief, key moments.
The 5-Stripes won't care how it unfolds so long as they come out with a positive result. But that doesn't mean negative tactics, at least not to El Profe.
"In the end, we prepare for matches to go out and look for them," Martino said.
