After a convincing 3-0 drubbing of Charleston Battery in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, Atlanta United have their next opponent in the domestic tournament.
The Five Stripes will face off against Chicago Fire on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Round of 16.
And for manager Gerardo Martino the location is just as important – if not more important – than the opponent.
“There’s a few reasons to be excited,” Martino said Friday. “One, we’re always happy to play in front of our home fans and to play at Mercedes-Benz where the fans show us great support every match, and the whole spectacle that it is to play there. But it’s also important that we don’t have to travel for this game during this busy stretch of our season.”
Veteran defender Michael Parkhurst especially honed in on the latter point. Not only does the support from the fan base boost the team’s energy, but the absence of travel, Parkhurst saID, allows for more of the regulars to play with minimal fatigue.
“It’s difficult to travel midweek games. I think it gives the coaching staff a little more flexibility if (Martino) wants to play more starters, knowing that the game will be right here in town as well. … We think we have a real good opportunity to make a deep run in this tournament.”
And a deep run would be the first of its kind for Atlanta United, who bowed out in the Round of 16 a year ago in dramatic fashion, allowing the game-winning goal in stoppage time against NASL side Miami FC.
In that game, the Five Stripes rested many of their key contributors. A home match, as Parkhurst pointed out, could minimize that.
But beyond the relief of staying home, Martino isn’t ready to turn his focus to the challenges Chicago may present – his attention remains on the daunting tasks that come before: New York City FC and Columbus Crew.
“I’m not ready to talk about what the starting lineup might be for that game,” Martino said on whether Parkhurst’s theory may hold true, “because we’ve got two big games this week against two teams who are probably candidates for the title this year.”
