Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer's decision to re-deploy the pieces of his midfield proved to be a key in Wednesday's 3-0 win against Minnesota at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Anticipating what Minnesota would do with its starters and 5-3-2 formation, de Boer switched Julian Gressel and Pity Martinez within the 4-2-3-1 formation. Martinez moved from the middle to the right in an attempt to take advantage of the space expected. Gressel moved from the right to the middle to take advantage his work rate and to keep Minnesota deep midfielder Ozzie Alonso occupied. Darlington Nagbe and Eric Remedi continued to serve as the defensive midfielders.
“I think it went well, especially in the beginning, but overall we can be proud of what everybody achieved tonight,” de Boer said.
Gressel proved a handful with an assist on Josef Martinez’s first goal, four shots (two on goal), three tackles and one chance created. Alonzo had no shots, just one chance created and no tackles.
“I know that he’s not the youngest anymore so he might not be able to move really side-to-side,” Gressel said. “If Eric (Remedi) and Darlington (Nagbe) — like they did — stay deep I can create holes on the side, and I think we saw that on the first goal. “
On his team’s first goal, Gressel moved into space in the left channel near the top of the penalty box. He received a pass from Michael Parkhurst, turned and, as Josef Martinez moved toward him drawing defenders, Gressel split Minnesota’s lines of defense with a pass into the space to his right. Minnesota’s Ike Opara lunged for the ball, but failed to clear it. Atlanta United’s Franco Escobar was there to one-time it into the opposite goal’s opposite corner.
Gressel’s assist came when he received a chipped pass from Escobar that broke Minnesota’s pressure. He played the ball to Josef Martinez, who beat Alonzo and Opara to score his seventh league goal.
Pity Martinez wasn’t as statistically effective as Gressel. Martinez finished with two shots, one on goal. He didn’t create any chances and had as many unsuccessful dribbles (3) as successful.
“Today was definitely better,” Gressel said. “I thought we were sharper in general just kind of moving the ball quick and then sharing it, maybe having Pity (Martinez) out wide and then with Dion (Pereira) going one-on-one and it just worked pretty well today. It’s obviously something we will hopefully continue. I thought we had some good chances - even before we scored a second one that late - where Josef (Martinez) hits the post and a couple shots get blocked like that. Overall, I thought it was a good performance.”
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