A busy stretch of matches begins on Saturday for Atlanta United when it hosts perennial Western Conference power Seattle Sounders. The 5-Stripes are looking to improve their performances on the pitch and get back into the win column. After a tough 3-2 defeat at home last weekend, Atlanta needs to start picking up three points in order to make a push towards the playoffs. Seattle is sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference and has been fairly steady throughout the entire season. The Sounders are undefeated in five matches coming into this weekend and will certainly look to extend that streak at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by Home Depot against Seattle Sounders.
More focus on the defensive side of the ball
It’s difficult to win soccer matches when you allow multiple goals on the defensive end of things. That’s one of the main areas Atlanta has to get better at. The team has conceded two or more goals in 15 of 23 matches so far this season. In order to get some improvement out of that side of the ball, Atlanta has brought in one reinforcement already in Enea Mihaj.
The Albanian international joins the squad from Portugal and brings with him a lot of experience from European football. Whether he plays on Saturday or not, he just joined team training this week, Mihaj will be counted on as one of the players that help make Atlanta’s defense stronger. If Atlanta can become stouter defensively, that will set the foundation for things going forward.
Disrupt Seattle’s attacking flow
Under head coach Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders have always been difficult to play against. They are an experienced group with many players playing together for the past several seasons. Albert Rusnak has taken his game to another level this season. He leads the team with 10 goals and seven assists. Rusnak pulls the strings in midfield and also leads the team with 67 key passes played. Atlanta’s midfield and backline have to be aware of Rusnak’s movements at all times.
Seattle also enjoys scoring goals in the second halves of matches with 19 of the team’s 37 goals coming in the second period. The team’s highest scoring 15-minute segment is between the 46-60th minute. That period has been an Achilles heel period for Atlanta United this year. The 5-Stripes have to avoid conceding goals at the beginning of each half in order to have a chance at three points Saturday.
Continue finding connections in final third
Against Charlotte last weekend, Atlanta scored in two very different ways. The first goal came off a beautiful cross from the half space from Bartosz Slisz that Tristan Muyumba finished. The second goal was a nice quick passing combination through the middle between Saba Lobjanidze, Miguel Almirón and finished by Latte Lath. Atlanta has to continue to find those connections in the final third and create more high-quality scoring chances. It has done a decent job all season of converting those clear-cut chances but simply don’t get a lot of them. Atlanta has to continue to find ways to create more chances starting this Saturday against Seattle.
Fans can tune in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET when the action kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. To hear the action on radio, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).
Atlanta United is ready for a thrilling rivalry match up vs Charlotte FC July 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET, where once again the 17s will show why Mercedes-Benz Stadium was named No. 1 Loudest Stadium in MLS by Newsweek. Tickets are still available for both matches.
