With two important home games coming, Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino didn’t seem too concerned Friday that the team has lost three of its past four games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The team is 5-2-1 in the $1.5 billion stadium, but has been beaten by Chicago 1-0 on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup, lost to New York Red Bulls 3-1 on May 20 and 2-0 to Sporting KC on May 9. Its lone win was against Philadelphia, reduced to nine men in the first half, 3-1 on June 2.
The Five Stripes, which lead MLS with 33 points, will host Portland on Sunday and Orlando City on June 30.
“Those games were different,” Martino said. “But it is something we want to work on.”
The losses to Sporting KC and Red Bulls included a red card to an Atlanta United player in each game. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was sent off in the first half against Sporting KC. Greg Garza was sent off in the second half against the Red Bulls. Josef Martinez also had goals overturned after recommendations from the Video Assistant Referee to the referee to check replays in both games. Atlanta United played well enough against Sporting KC that it still had chances to earn a draw.
“Team’s been doing well, focus on ourselves this game,” Darlington Nagbe said.
Atlanta United has a better record on the road this season (5-1-2) than it does at home, which is different than last season, when it was 11-3-3 at home and 4-6-7 on the road. The team has scored 22 goals this season while allowing 11 at home. It has scored 11 and allowed 8 on the road this season.
The Timbers, as Martino noted, are playing well away from Providence Park this season, going 2-2-3 with 10 goals scored and 14 allowed. However, it was forced to play its first five games this season on the road, going 0-2-3. It has won its past two, 3-2 at Colorado on May 26 and 1-0 at San Jose on May 5.
About the Author
