A goal from Josef Martinez and a strong night from Brad Guzan were enough for Atlanta United to secure a 1-1 draw with Motagua in the first leg of their Champions League series Tuesday at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in Honduras.
Playing their first game of the 2020 season, Guzan finished with five saves to make Martinez’s important away goal stand up ahead of the rematch of the two-legged series on Feb. 25 at Kennesaw State. All Atlanta United needs to do is not allow a goal in the return leg to secure a spot in the Round of Eight.
Both manager Frank de Boer and Guzan on Monday said that a draw would be a fine result for the team. It was much better than last year’s 3-1 loss at Herediano in Costa Rica in Atlanta United’s first venture in the Champions League.
“We can be very positive about the result,” de Boer said in a phone call Tuesday night. “The field was not the best field, you can say. To apply our style of play was quite difficult. At the end, a one-all draw was deserved by both teams. Both teams could have scored one or two more. I’m very happy with the result.”
Atlanta United’s only glaring mistake came on Motagua’s opening goal. The rest of the game was cagey with almost 40 fouls called, which disrupted the rhythm trying to be established by the teams. Only three yellow cards were given to Martinez, Franco Escobar and Motagua’s Felix Cristiano.
“Great result, the tie was fundamental for the squad, given that many players couldn’t be here with us tonight and had to stay back home,” Martinez told CONCACAF’s broadcast.
De Boer, his roster beset either by injuries or issues securing visas, selected this starting 11 in a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 formation: Guzan in goal with a centerback pairing of Fernando Meza and Anton Walkes. The fullbacks were Escobar, the last man standing because of injuries to George Bello and Edgar Castillo, on the left and on the right was Mo Adams, in for the injured Brooks Lennon. Eric Remedi and Jeff Larentowicz were paired as the defensive midfielders, with Emerson Hyndman as the attacking midfielder. Ezequiel Barco, Pity Martinez and Josef Martinez were the three up front. Atlanta United has mostly played with three at the back during the preseason, but a left quad injury sustained by Miles Robinson scuppered that plan. The roster is so thin de Boer had just six players on his bench instead of the customary seven.
De Boer said Atlanta United trained with this back four for the first time on Sunday because Lennon sustained a twisted ankle and wasn’t 100 percent.
Atlanta United’s first chance came in the 24th minute with a header from Walkes went wide. It came from a free kick won and hit by Pity Martinez about 30 yards from goal on the left.
Motagua took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Roberto Moreira Aldana volleyed a high, looping cross from Cristano past Guzan. Moreira was left unmarked by Adams, who didn’t log many minutes during the preseason, at the back post.
“We knew that 34 always had fantastic crosses,” de Boer said. “We didn’t do well at that moment. We have to squeeze him and be more alert at that moment. “
But Atlanta United responded a minute later with an important away goal from Josef Martinez, who hit a right-footed shot into the lower left corner after a nice set of passes between he and Pity Martinez down the middle of the field. De Boer said that Josef Martinez was recently fighting a fever and was doubtful to play.
De Boer subbed in Lennon for Adams in the 65th minute because he said he could see signs of fatigue.
In the minutes before and after the sub, Atlanta United’s offense started to show signs of consistency. First, a shot by Remedi was saved. Then, a shot by Pity Martinez forced a diving save. De Boer said that Pity Martinez worked “his bollocks off.”
Guzan kept the game tied in the 68th minute, first with a save at the back post after another Motagua player wasn’t defended well, and then on a hard shot from the middle.
Motagua missed another chance in the 76th minute when a shot from 18 yards sailed over the crossbar.
De Boer brought on tall striker Adam Jahn for Pity Martinez in the 80th minute in an attempt to continue to play more long balls to bypass the bumpy turf.
“We needed a target man,” de Boer said. “He did great. He was fighting for every ball. We played more like a 4-4-2. It worked out very well, I think.”
Atlanta United’s bench will get deeper for the return leg. De Boer said that Jake Mulraney has secured his visa and that Matheus Rossetto should be available for selection because the game is in the U.S.
“I want to see a United at home that’s dominating, playing attractive football,” de Boer said. “The style we always want to see on our home stage.”
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