Availability report: Sal Mazzaferro signs second Short-Term Agreement

Atlanta United 2 defender Sal Mazzaferro signed a Short-Term Agreement for the Rapids match, the club announced Friday. It's Mazzaferro's second of the season, with his first coming for the 5-Stripes' 4-1 win over Atlas FC in Leagues Cup August 6. The center back made his First Team debut in that match as a substitute.

Atlanta United should have plenty of valuable depth for their duel with Colorado Rapids, even with a few players unavailable per the club's availability report Friday. Earlier this week, Miguel Almirón and Deila discussed the need for control of the match, especially given the altitude at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, and substitutes could be a big part of that effort.

Mazzaferro is one of a few recent debutants who will be available for head coach Ronny Deila's selection. New signings Steven Alzate and Juan Berrocal made their first appearances with the club against CF Montréal, and they're in the matchday squad for Atlanta United's trip to Colorado. The 5-Stripes will kick off at 9 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 16 against Rapids.

Atlanta United also announced today defender Derrick Williams is being transferred to Reading FC in England, making sense of the STA for Mazzaferro — to have a fourth central defender on the roster for Colorado. Here's a refresher on MLS rules for Short-Term Agreements from the club's release today:

• Per 2025 MLS Roster Rules and Regulations, a club may sign a player, age 25 or younger during the league season, from its affiliate (MLS NEXT Pro) to a maximum of four Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) each season (maximum of 16 days). An individual player may be included on up to four MLS league season match rosters each season, however, that player may appear in no more than two MLS league season matches. An individual player may appear in any number of non-league games during the terms of his four Short-Term Agreements.

The four players listed on the club's Friday availability report were there last week as well. Pedro Amador, Matt Edwards, Jay Fortune and Jamal Thiaré remain out as they rehab various lower-body injuries: