Atlanta United players seem reasonably sure where Orlando City forwards Cyle Larin and new signee Dom Dwyer will line up during Saturday’s game, the final one for the Five Stripes at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
They are more interested – even cautiously curious – to see where Kaka will line up in the heat and humidity that will blanket the field and the sold-out crowd of more than 45,000.
“We know Kaka is very dangerous,” Atlanta United centerhalf Leandro Gonzalez Pirez said. “He knows defense. He is always prepared to attack. We will have to be extremely careful when he’s on the field. When he receives the ball, he can cause a lot of damage.”
Kaka, MLS’ most expensive player, with a salary of more than $7.1 million, can play either as a forward, as he did for part of Atlanta United’s 1-0 win over Orlando City last week, or as a midfielder in the middle or out wide on the left, as he also did against Atlanta United.
With Dwyer almost certainly to pair with Larin up front in a 4-4-2 formation, Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino assumes that Kaka will either play underneath the forwards as a playmaker in the top of a diamond-shaped midfield, or on the left, out wide.
Atlanta United centerhalf Michael Parkhurst said Kaka is more dangerous on the left because it allows him to either drift inside to shoot or distribute to someone else. When he cuts inside, it typically forces the fullback to go with him and opens a large amount of space that an Orlando City fullback can run into in what’s called an overlap.
“That puts a lot strain on our winger,” Parkhurst said.
One of Atlanta United’s holding midfielders, either Jeff Larentowicz or Carlos Carmona, could move out to their right to pick up Kaka, but then that leaves three defenders to take on Larin, Dwyer and whoever Orlando City might use as the midfielder playing behind the two forwards.
If Kaka plays inside, either Larentowicz or Carmona can try to pick him up, which is an easier job.
“He’s still powerful,” Parkhurst said. “He’s definitely a guy we need to key on.”
Kaka caused Atlanta United some trouble in the first half of last week's game. The Brazilian had one long, mazy run of more than 30 yards. But, as has frequently been the case this season – which is one of the reasons the team traded for Dwyer – Orlando City, which has scored the third-fewest goals this season (22), couldn't take advantage of that particular piece of skill.
Atlanta United may have its own issues on offense to sort out because it will again be without striker Josef Martinez. He will miss his second consecutive game with a bruised foot. Hector Villalba filled in and scored the game-winner with a goal-of-the-year candidate in the 86th minute.
Atlanta United must also improve at defending set pieces. Orlando City could easily have scored twice on headers by Jonathan Spector if not for terrific saves by Brad Guzan in his debut as Atlanta United’s goalkeeper.
Martino also wants to see the team execute better on offense. He said the team played well in the first half, but lacked the unlocking pass in the final third of the field.
The team should get a boost from the crowd, fueled by the game being the final one at Bobby Dodd Stadium before the team moves into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in September. Though the team has played only eight games in its temporary home, the players say it has felt like home.
“I kind of don’t want to go,” Atlanta United fullback Greg Garza said. “Bobby Dodd has been sensational. The people have made the atmosphere unreal.”
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