In their 3-1 victory at Real Salt Lake, Atlanta United shot out of the gates once again as Tito Villalba gave the visitors the one goal advantage just nine minutes into the match. However, much different from the other two wins on the season, this was no dominant, thrashing victory like their 6-1 or 4-0 score-lines. Just as gritty as their previous matches in Seattle, Toronto, and Montreal, this last contest of the road stretch against RSL would take all effort, all heart & all determination for 90 minutes.
“We entered the second half playing well because we weren't really happy with how we played in the first half,” head coach Tata Martino said through a translator. “My message to the team was to be aggressive, and we wanted to come out aggressive right away.”
His squad followed orders and executed quicker than he could have drawn it up. Less than 60 seconds after the whistle blew to kick off the second half, the Atlanta United front line applied the pressure to Real Salt Lake in their own half. Forcing the home side into a costly giveaway, Almirón dispossessed an RSL defender and fed Yamil Asad who found the back of an open net to give Atlanta the 2-0 lead.
“In the last two games, we've kind of let points slip away from us, but tonight I thought we played well,” said Martino. “With the substitutions Real Salt Lake made, their coach put in some attacking players at the end, but we were able to overcome it.”
Not only was the expansion side able to hold onto the win, but they were able to secure the three points in stoppage time courtesy of an unlikely hero. Rostered for the first time since signing with Atlanta United, 18-year-old Brandon Vazquez received the nod from the gaffer as he made his MLS debut at the 90’ + 3’ mark. Just three minutes later, he would calmly notch his first goal and seal the victory for the visitors.
“Brandon (Vazquez) works hard, he works hard in practice, he always gives a good effort, he always wants to improve,” stated Martino. “We had an opportunity to bring him on his first road trip and put him on the bench, and him being the third forward on our team he had a chance to play tonight, and he converted his chance.”
Despite some injuries and suspensions thus far this season, week by week Atlanta United continue to prove their quality of depth as a squad and the performance at Real Salt Lake is just one example of that value.
