Atlanta United patiently battled Motagua to a 1-1 draw Tuesday in Honduras in the first leg of their Champions League series.
Atlanta United took advantage of one of its few good chances while Motagua failed to capitalize on enough of the handful it created.
So, the table is set for Tuesday’s return at Kennesaw State. Because of the valuable away goal scored by Josef Martinez, Atlanta United doesn’t even need to score, as long as Motagua doesn’t, to advance to the Round of 16.
Not that Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer wants to see that kind of game.
“I want to see a United at home that’s dominating, playing attractive football,” he said. “The style we always want to see on our home stage.”
That wish wasn’t a backhanded compliment of his team’s performance in Honduras. De Boer said the bumpy pitch at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano made it difficult to play his team’s preferred style of keeping the ball on the ground and passing between the lines.
De Boer appreciated that the team at times chose the more direct route: long balls from the back line forward to Josef Martinez, or down the wings. He described using the tactic as a “fighting spirit” a few times in a conference call with journalists after the game.
In addition to the pitch, de Boer’s task was made harder because several players were unavailable to start or even make the trip because of injuries or visa issues. The roster was so thin that only six players were on the bench instead of the customary seven.
The backline of Mo Adams, Anton Walkes, Fernando Meza and Franco Escobar practiced its first minutes together in the 4-1/2 weeks of preseason Sunday. Normally, Brooks Lennon would be in at right fullback in place of Adams, but he sustained an ankle injury Sunday. He did come off the bench to play Tuesday when Adams began to show fatigue. Centerback Miles Robinson was out with a quad injury. Fullback George Bello is out with a concussion. Fullback Edgar Castillo is out with a rib injury. Winger Jake Mulraney and midfielder Matheus Rossetto didn’t have their visas, but de Boer said both should be available for Tuesday.
The group mostly did what it needed. Adams was at fault on Motagua’s first goal when he failed to track the back-post run made by Roberto Moreira.
“It wasn’t our best moment in the game,” de Boer said.
Motagua kept attacking with crosses to the back post, which is something Atlanta United scouted and discussed in its preparations. When those crosses connected, either the shot was missed or it was saved by Brad Guzan, who denied Motagua five times. Motagua finished with 12 shots to Atlanta United’s 11 and 30 crosses to the Five Stripes’ nine.
Put it together and Atlanta United is in a more comfortable position than it was after last year’s first leg against Herediano in Costa Rica when it came home after a 3-1 loss. Atlanta United rebounded to win 4-0 and advance.
“We can be very positive about the result,” de Boer said.
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