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Atlanta United FC: Things Got Right For The 5 Stripes

By W. M. Lawson

May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Carlos Carmona (14) and forward Hector Villalba (15) and defender Tyrone Mears (2) and midfielder Yamil Asad (11) and midfielder Miguel Almiron (10) and defender Greg Garza (4) celebrate after a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Carlos Carmona (14) and forward Hector Villalba (15) and defender Tyrone Mears (2) and midfielder Yamil Asad (11) and midfielder Miguel Almiron (10) and defender Greg Garza (4) celebrate after a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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On a day when the city of Atlanta saw a bunch of winning, none was more impressive, and needed, than Atlanta United FC’s victory.

In what has been, by all accounts, a successful season thus far for Atlanta United FC, the feeling around this fresh franchise had dimmed a little. The rigors of a full MLS season had begun to take its toll. Injuries had started to crop up. A schedule that is mainly road games exacted a cost. United had failed to win a game in weeks.

Coming home for a two game stretch, it was quietly quoted often that Saturday’s game against the Houston Dynamo was a “must win” game for our beloved United FC. After 10 games, they had a 3-3-4 record, and hadn’t won a full three points (a victory) in weeks.

As I wrote earlier here:

"Another Atlanta team having to weather the weather, and the loss of their best player, played in Atlanta on the 20th and made a statement. Atlanta United FC hosted the Houston Dynamo, and were very rude hosts. In what most considered a “must win” game for Atlanta, the 5 Stripes blasted Houston (4-1), and put on a show for the fans. The crowd was rockin’, and the team was rollin’. Miguel Almirón had his first ever MLS hat trick. Two of those goals were just absolutely sick. That game felt good."

Truly, it was a cathartic win for a team that has been on the road an insane amount of time this year already. One question, though, was whether Atlanta had lost any kind of home field advantage. Not that the crowd has diminished or is any less loud…quite the opposite, actually. But ATL UTD hadn’t won at home in a while.

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Reality is, regardless of sport, in order to be relevant, you have to win your home games and win some on the road. Winning teams…playoff teams…don’t lose at home.

It’s also a bolster and boon when a team that has struggled to find ways to win gets a raucous runaway win. The kind that seems easy…feels easy…looks easy. That’s what Atlanta did to Houston.

Atlanta United FC, after 11 games played, sits with 15 points and is in 9th place in the Eastern Conference. But with a win Sunday, May 28th, they could possibly jump as high as 6th in the conference.

Next: Atlanta Braves: A Quarter-Pole Perspective

That win May 20th was absolutely needed. A win Sunday, May 28th, and Atlanta United FC could start making some noise.

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