Buckle up. Atlanta United will take one more extended road trip to end its season before finishing up at home. The flights will add up to around 3400 miles, a series of journeys that includes trips to three different corners of the United States. The first this Saturday will be an away day up in Foxborough, Mass. as the 5-Stripes take on New England Revolution.
Their first match came all the way back in April, a frustrating result that Atlanta United will have the facilities to change Saturday. Since, they've signed multiple new players, experienced highs and lows and earned their first road win of the season against Nashville. That 1-0 victory back on August 30 is serving as a golden example for what the 5-Stripes need to bring to Boston.
Generating momentum before a trio of tricky road stops
In their last matchups against the teams Atlanta United will play on the road in the coming three weekends, it's been an uphill battle. The 5-Stripes haven't picked up a point in their last three matchups against New England, LAFC and Inter Miami.
They have some momentum to cling onto to rise to the occasion. Just look to last weekend's bout with San Diego FC. The top team in the Western Conference scored first, but Atlanta United hung on and put together a thorough second half performance. Miguel Almirón's penalty kick goal earned the 5-Stripes a point against quality opposition.
"In this season, with all the good teams [we face], we play really good against them," Saba Lobjanidze said after training Thursday. "The San Diego performance, I think this season, it was one of the best for us."
As far as which players won't make the trip with the team to Massachusetts, the below is the Availability Report for the match vs New England Revolution:
PLAYER | STATUS | REASON |
|---|---|---|
Luke Brennan | Out | U-20 World Cup |
Matt Edwards | Out | Hamstring |
Jay Fortune | Out | Foot |
Will Reilly | Out | Hamstring |
Saba makes a compelling point. Atlanta United have had a few key moments against top opposition this season: A home win against now second place FC Cincinnati, that hard-fought draw with Supporters' Shield contenders San Diego, a win and clean sheet away at Nashville that handed their rivals just their second home loss of the season.
Like the forward said, earning more results like those will be important for team morale not only for the last four matches but for the offseason. Head coach Ronny Deila looked to their most recent road match, that Nashville win, for inspiration.
"A a lot of the things that we did in Nashville," Deila said when asked what the team needs to do to secure points on the road trip. "It's always a bit different when you go away, because then the opponent is attacking even more. You need to have character in the team. You need to be calm when you are a little under pressure, and then you have to take your chances and dare to play when you get the opportunities. I think we did that well in Nashville."
Second half sparks needed for New England
Staying solid through the last 45 is the name of the game for Deila and his team. The marquee results this year have all been marked by strong showings in the second half. The 5-Stripes have been comeback kings in the last 45 a few times this year — at home New York City and Orlando City and most recently fighting back for a draw against San Diego. However, all three of those results came at home, and emulating that grit on the road has been a different challenge, one that Deila can see his side figuring out with time.
"At this level, when it's so even, we have suffered so many times in the second halves this this year," Deila said. "Now you feel like we are staying together. We are getting stronger and stronger, and we are hard to play against."
Aggression has been a focus of Deila's over the last few matches. It's an intangible he sees when things are going well and, conversely, something his side needs when they aren't clicking. Deila praised Saturday's opposition for showing their own fire and called on his squad to match it.
"The intensity and the hard work that they are putting in," Deila said when asked what New England does that will test his side. "We have to deal with winning challenges, first balls, second balls. We have to deal with Gil."
Carles Gil, a former Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player, is always top of mind for opposing coach staffs. Against the 5-Stripes in April, he scored the lone goal of the match with a penalty kick and was otherwise difficult to handle. With defensive reinforcements like Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal coming in since that match, Deila will have options to try and neutralize Gil's threat.
New England is just five points against of Atlanta in the Eastern Conference and was recently eliminated from playoff contention. While the match will have no postseason consequences, there will be just as much desire from both sides to end up on the right side of three points.
"There's always pressure," Saba said when asked if there's pressure to earn results in the final stretch of the season. "We have to win some games, you know, for positive vibes for the next season. We have to win, and I'm ready for that."
