Who will start for Atlanta United (14-8-7) in Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia (9-12-9) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
Even without injured attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron for the first time this season and possibly without fullback Greg Garza for the fourth consecutive game, I think it will be a strong lineup because the team needs just one win to become the first MLS expansion team since Seattle in 2009 to clinch a playoff spot. A victory will also keep pressure on NYCFC for second place in the Eastern Conference.
With that in mind:
The goalkeeper will be Brad Guzan.
The fullbacks be Anton Walkes and Chris McCann, who will make his fourth consecutive start. Garza has resumed training, but I’ll be surprised if he plays today.
The centerhalves will be Michael Parkhurst and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. The team has nine shutouts this season, including four in their past five games.
The holding midfielders will be Carlos Carmona and Jeff Larentowicz.
The attacking midfielder will be Julian Gressel, who has two goals and eight assists, instead of Almiron, who is out a minimum of three weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 2-0 win against Montreal.
The wide midfielders will be Hector Villalba (12 goals, 9 assists) and Yamil Asad (6 goals, 12 assists).
The striker will be Josef Martinez, who has 17 goals this season, including eight in the past five games.
