News
News

Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1: Man of the match

Hector 'Tito' Villaba watches the ball going towards the goal for the third goal of the team, Atlanta United beat the DC United on the first home team of the 2018 MLS season on March 11, 2018 in Atlanta Ga.

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Hector 'Tito' Villaba watches the ball going towards the goal for the third goal of the team, Atlanta United beat the DC United on the first home team of the 2018 MLS season on March 11, 2018 in Atlanta Ga.
By
March 11, 2018

My choice for Atlanta United’s man of the match is Hector Villalba following Sunday’s 3-1 win against D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz on Sunday:

HECTOR VILLALBA

Striker

Why? Playing as a striker instead of on the right side of the midfield, he scored a goal in the 75th minute and had two assists on goals by Josef Martinez in the 24th minute and Miguel Almiron in the 73rd minute.

Villalba was in a fantastic mood in the locker room after the game, singing the “San Lorenzo” song as he got dressed. San Lorenzo is his former club in Argentina, and also the area where he grew up.

“It didn’t feel that much different,” Villalba said about the formation switch. “We just worked on it. Coach (Gerardo Martino) walked us through it and told us what to do this week. That’s really all it was.”

About the Author

Doug Roberson covers the Atlanta United and Major League Soccer.

Follow Doug Roberson on facebookFollow Doug Roberson on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

One reader is asking the AJC to help her find cottage cheese made by Mayfield. (Ihar Balaikin/Dreamstime/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Where can I find it?

AJC readers are looking for help finding actual toothpaste (not gel) and Mayfield cottage cheese.

Robert Banks, longtime film, TV actor, dies

Robert Banks, longtime film, TV actor dies

Teamsters trash collectors in Alpharetta area end months-long strike

A labor contract struck in Georgia is the final deal to end strikes by local Teamsters unions that started in July at several Republic Services locations across the country.

The Latest

ALS is a terminal diagnosis, and Hopkins' energy, drive and hope have astounded his friends.

Credit: Robb Cohen/AJC

Sweet Tea: How andouille do?

High school scoreboard: Friday night’s football action around the state

Where can I find it?

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Inside the team that transforms State Farm Arena overnight, from games to concerts

State Farm Arena's conversion team assembles and reassembles the basketball court, constructs and deconstructs stages, arranges and rearranges floor seating for each event.

Some ‘No Kings’ protests may snarl traffic Saturday. Here’s how to get around.

"No Kings" protests are scheduled within metro Atlanta Saturday, and some have the potential to tie up traffic. Here's how to get around some of the larger ones.

Georgia students still outpacing national average on ACT. See results by school.

Find out how your child's school and district performed on the college entrance exam.