Atlanta United fans may have seen this weekend’s Red Bulls matchup as just a rematch of the team’s inaugural match. But the team is looking ahead, and it turned into a valuable preview of what’s to come in the postseason.
“It was an intense game,” head coach Tata Martino said through a translator after the game. “I think it was a good measuring stick for us. That's a game that could be a quarterfinal in the playoffs.”
While Sunday’s match may have just been for final seeding, but it had a distinctive feel of a playoff game – a tactical chess match with both teams staying as solid and compact as possible to limit the other team’s opportunities. Jeff Larentowicz’s veteran presence was vital, with his eight interceptions the fifth-most in a game in all of MLS this year.
“It’s a perfect test,” Jeff Larentowicz told reporters. “You’re on the road and you have to get points, you have to perform well, you have to play with your back against the wall for an extended period of time and stand up to it. I think we did that tonight and we got a real sense of what it’s going to be like in ten days.”
The Red Bulls have proven a worthy adversary in both matches, and are looking strong heading into the postseason. But Atlanta United’s players are confident with their solidity in defense, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan not having conceded a goal in more than 8 hours of competitive play. And with a few chances that just slipped out of Atlanta’s hands, that could’ve meant a win.
“They’re a proper team, they’re a good team and they’ve got very good players,” said goalkeeper Brad Guzan. “Jesse [Marsch] sets them up in a way that allows them to attack their numbers and if we took our chances the first half maybe it’s a different game. But, that’s football.”
The team will now look ahead to their regular season finale against Supporters' Shield winners Toronto FC. While Toronto’s place is already locked in there’s plenty on the line for Atlanta as they look to clinch a home-field match or even a first-round bye.
“We're going to give everything we have in this last game because we still have something to play for,” Martino said. “The Red Bulls, they are locked into the sixth place, so it's possible they rest players, and if that's the case, then we could end up facing the Red Bulls in the first round.”
That match will kick off from Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday at 4:00 p.m. More than 70,000 people have already booked their spot as the club breaks the MLS regular season attendance record for the second time this season. Click here to be a part of history, and get a ticket before they run out.
