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Atlanta United FC: Playoff Moves in Home Win Against Colorado

By W. M. Lawson

Jun 24, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez (second from right) celebrates his goal with midfielder Miguel Almiron (10) and midfielder Carlos Carmona (second from left) and midfielder Anton Walkes (26) in the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez (second from right) celebrates his goal with midfielder Miguel Almiron (10) and midfielder Carlos Carmona (second from left) and midfielder Anton Walkes (26) in the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta United FC is in the thick and throes of a playoff push at the halfway point of the season.  The win against Colorado glimpsed why.

This ain’t supposed to happen. And it doesn’t matter what sport or at what level. This just isn’t supposed to happen. Quickly name an expansion franchise that made a serious playoff push in their inaugural season. It’s not easy to think of one, because it is nigh impossible to do. But Atlanta United FC is doing just that.

After 17 matches played, Atlanta United FC  is 6th in the Eastern Conference (last playoff spot), and have accumulated 24 points. It is true that Arthur Blank, Owner of ATL UTD and the ATL Falcons, opened his wallet and built this team to compete from the jump. But at the halfway point, no one,at the season’s onset, seriously would’ve bet money that this is where The 5 Stripes would be at the half-way point of the season.

Part of that was due to the early injury to lead scorer, and overall MLS phenom, Josef Martinez. His start Saturday was the first since March 18. That happened right before Freddie Freeman went down for the ATL Braves. To say ATL fans were frustrated would be an insincere understatement.

All Martinez did, though, was score the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids. The goal was sick, too. In fact, it put to rest any notion or fear ATL UTD fans had that his early emergence was a fluke. Dude really is that good.

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The other reason for playoff passion to settle in with the “Terminus Legion” is the current home win streak. We’ve discussed it before in this space. You have to win home games to be competitive. If you win at home, and take advantage of your advantage, all you half to do is win half of your games away. That last part has been tricky, even against awful teams, for Atlanta. But continue to win at home, and that will take care of itself.

Yes, Atlanta United FC is now winning at home, and now have their most prolific scorer back. Frankly, the combination of Martinez and Miguel Almirón will frighten some lineups. And with the adjustments made on the back-end by replacing a struggling Tyrone Mears, it looks like a few more minor adjustments will pay big dividends in the second half of the season.

Atlanta, still in a gruesome stretch of 8 games in 25 days, could come out of it better suited than went it entered. That, also, is a good sign.

Next: Georgia Football: Zamir “Zeus” White Heading Home to Athens

For anyone to suggest that Atlanta United FC shouldn’t be considered a threat in the Eastern Conference would be to belie any knowledge of the league or the game. Simply put, we’re half-way through the season, and Atlanta is just getting started. Or re-started.

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