A better pitch, more time to train and having the advantage of scoring an away goal last week in Honduras are a combination that Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer hopes will be enough to help his team advance in the Champions League.
Atlanta United will host Honduran side Motagua on Tuesday at Kennesaw State in the second leg of the series. The teams drew 1-1 on goals from Roberto Aldana and Josef Martinez last week at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
“We have enough quality in the team that we can score goals,” de Boer said on Monday.
The team was supposed to train at Kennesaw State on Monday. Because of the heavy rain and the possibility of damaging the field with use, the team instead held training at its ground in Marietta.
“I expect we will have a proper pitch tomorrow,” de Boer said.
De Boer and goalkeeper Brad Guzan said the pitch in Honduras didn’t allow Atlanta United to play its style: controlling possession, tidy on the ball and dictating the pace of the game.
So to earn a draw with a goal from Martinez one minute after Motagua’s opener should benefit the team mentally because they know they can do so again if the field on Tuesday plays slow because of the rain.
Because Atlanta United scored the away goal, it can advance to the next round as long as it keeps Motagua from scoring on Tuesday.
“Nice to have the away goal but we know we have to impose ourselves on them and dictate the game as much as possible,” Guzan said.
Motagua’s goal came from a cross from the right side to the back post. It’s something that Atlanta United scouted and prepared for. Aldana was unmarked at the back post because centerback Anton Walkes said the team was a bit too much “on the front foot” attacking. Mo Adams, who started because Brooks Lennon wasn’t 100 percent, was late to get back to cover Aldana. De Boer said it wasn’t his team’s best moment.
Motagua pumped in 30 crosses last week, most from the right. A few were dangerous. Guzan made five saves.
Atlanta United played with four in the back last week. With the healthy return of Brooks Lennon and Jake Mulraney, who couldn’t play because he was working on securing his visa, de Boer may elect to play with three centerbacks and two wingbacks in a formation that could better deal with Motagua’s preferred tactic.
“Don’t let the crosses in easily,” de Boer said. “We have to really stop that.”
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