Atlanta United FC: Five Stripes Advance to the Eastern Conference Finals
Atlanta United FC earned their biggest win in franchise history. They defeated NYCFC 3-1 and advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference Finals.
Atlanta United FC got major contributions from the teams two best players. Josef Martinez returned to his multiple goal scoring ways, and Miguel Almiron continued his recovery from injury, scoring a goal himself. They helped the Five Stripes avoid losing consecutive home games, for the first time this season.
The 3-1 victory gave Atlanta United FC a sweep in the two match home and home series, after they won the first match 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on November 4. They won the series by a combined score of 4-1, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Probable MLS MVP Josef Martinez got the scoring started in the 25th minute on a penalty kick. NYCFC fouled Franco Escobar on a scoring opportunity to set up the penalty kick.
Martinez ran fast and appeared as though he would try for a hard kick towards the left side of the goal. NY goalie Sean Johnson dove in that direction as Martinez calmly chipped the ball in the opposite direction, scoring to the right side.
Miguel Almiron increased the Five Stripes lead in the 42nd minute scoring on a free kick. It was a precisely accurate kick that at 1st appeared to be wide left. However the kick curved back inside of the left post and scored over a diving Sean Johnson.
Maxime Chanot scored in the 45th minute for NYCFC to cut the Five Stripes lead to 2-1. The match would stay that way until the 83rd minute. That’s when Josef Martinez received a pass from Eric Remedi, allowed it to bounce off of his chest, dribbled straight forward and scored on an angled kick to the right corner.
Josef Martinez’s second goal put the nail in the coffin and sent Atlanta United FC to the conference finals to face the favored New York Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls defeated Atlanta United 2-0 during the regular season and hold a 3-0-1 advantage all time against the Five Stripes.
They New York Red Bulls swept the season series against Atlanta United FC. In Atlanta on May 20 they won a controversial match 3-1, in which a goal that would have tied the score 2-2 was disallowed. NYFB completed the sweep on September 30, with a 2-0 shutout win in New Jersey.
Forward Josef Martinez led Atlanta United FC with an MLS single season record 31 goals. He attempted 97 shots, 56 on goal. Midfielder Miguel Almiron was second on the team with 12 goals. Midfielder Hector Villalba added seven goals.
Miguel Almiron and Julian Gressell shared the Five Stripes’ top distributor title with 14 assists each on the campaign. Hector Villalba chipped in nine assists. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan led the team with 81 saves and posted eight shut outs.
The Red Bulls are led by Bradley Wright-Phillips who has scored 20 goals on 82 shots. Midfielder Daniel Royer was second on the team with 11 goals. Kaku a midfielder, led NYRB in assists with 14. Wright-Phillips and midfielder Sean Davis dished out eight assists each.
Goalkeeper Luis Robles was the top save man for the Red Bulls. He had 84 saves and 14 shutouts for the year.
During the season series amongst the two teams, Daniel Royer led the winning Red Bulls with two goals. Josef Martinez scored two for Atlanta United FC.
Atlanta United FC and the New York Red Bulls will begin the first leg of Eastern Conference Finals, in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, on Sunday November 25. Kickoff is at 5PM EST. The series will finish up the series on Thursday November 29 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The winner will host and be favored to win the MLS cup.
Atlanta United certainly isn’t the favorite in this series, as the New York Red Bulls played outstanding soccer down the stretch to pass Atlanta United FC for the Supporter’s Shield. However Miguel Almiron playing 84 minutes, the most since returning from injury, and scoring a goal, is great sign that he is finally healthy.
Josef Martinez scoring multiple goals is also a great sign. This will be a hotly contested series but Atlanta is the more talented team. Also it’s very difficult to beat a great team three times in a season.
Prediction: Atlanta United FC, 4 aggregated goals
New York Red Bulls, 3 combined goals
The Five Stripes Advance to the MLS Cup
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