Atlanta United travel to Houston Saturday for their 2018 MLS debut against the Houston Dynamo. The Five Stripes came out 4-1 winners at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the only other fixture between the two teams, but a new season brings plenty of changes to both sides. You can catch all the action at 3:30 p.m. EST on Univision.
Ahead of this weekend’s inter-conference clash, we broke down the Tools to the Match presented by The Home Depot:
Stop the Speed
Houston finished 2017 with the second-most home wins in MLS last year (12) and the third-most goals (43), both the most in a season for the club since 2010. A major reason for that was their electric counter attack packed with speed in the attacking third. 22-year-old Alberth Elis leads the charge on the wing with his open-field acceleration and ability on the dribble leading to 10 goals in the league last year. But his fellow Honduran Romell Quioto has plenty of pace to burn down the pitch himself, with the 26-year-old capable of playing on the wing, in the forward position and behind the attacking line as a playmaker. There’s no question that the Dynamo are most comfortable on the counter-attack, so it will be crucial for Atlanta United to keep their discipline and shape when in possession to help make sure turnovers don’t translate to goals conceded.
Marking Manotas
When a team lets their top scorer from the season before leave in the offseason, that means they’re confident in who’s stepping in. Erick “Cubo” Torres scored 14 goals for the Dynamo last season but left for Liga MX. That’s due in part to the potential of young Colombian striker Mauro Manotas, who thrived last year despite playing mostly in a backup role. The Dynamo are doubling down on his talent and his potential, and clearly see him as the future of their attacking lineup after his ten goals were good enough to be tied for second-most on the team last year.
Start Strong
From the travel to the hostile atmosphere, road matches are infamously tough in Major League Soccer. That’s why Michael Parkhurst told reporters earlier this week that it will be vital for the team to get out those first-match jitters in order to start on the right foot. Scoring first can change the outcome of any game, but especially on the road as it can deflate the energy of a hostile home crowd in Houston. Atlanta United tends to dominate possession, which can take the sting out of opponents’ offense, but converting that into chances and possibly an early goal could go along way in securing an impressive road result to kick off the season.
Follow the Match
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be nationally broadcast on Univision. You can listen to the game on the Atlanta United app or through one of our radio partners: 92.9 The Game or, for Spanish-speaking listeners, La Mejor Atlanta. Click here for a full rundown of how to follow along with the game.
