Mo Adams accepted a challenge from Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer for Friday’s game at LAFC: Play a position he hasn’t played in years while trying to defend the front-runner to be named MLS MVP.
“I’ve always said I’ll do whatever job is asked of me to the best of my abilities,” he said.
Adams acquitted himself well as a left wingback playing Carlos Vela in Atlanta United's 4-3 loss. He was subbed out to start the second half because de Boer said they needed more offense to try to close the 4-2 gap.
First, Adams scored.
His goal from a set-piece gave Atlanta United a 1-0 lead inside the opening two minutes. On the play, Adams said he was supposed to pick Franco Escobar’s mark. Escobar started his run from the top of the penalty box toward the back post. Adams stepped out and bumped into Escobar’s defender. Escobar ran free to the post and headed Julian Gressel’s free kick back toward the goal. LAFC failed to clear the ball, which came to Adams. He touched it into the goal.
“It worked pretty well,” he said.
Defending Vela was more problematic. Adams, who is right-footed, said he trained at wingback for a few days before the game. He played right fullback growing up in England. He played mostly defensive midfielder in college at Syracuse and then with Chicago, which traded him to Atlanta United a few weeks ago.
“As long as you know basics of defending you can always adapt to the position,” Adams said.
Vela, a left-footed winger, switched sides several times during the first half. Most of his success seemed to come down Atlanta United’s right. From there he earned a dubious penalty kick that he converted. He also earned an assist on Eduard Atuesta’s goal that capped LAFC’s scoring.
“The fact that he kept switching sides maybe disrupted the rhythm,” Adams said. “Maybe better organization between the centerbacks and wingbacks next time.”
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