Atlanta United’s next opponent, D.C. United, has scored one goal — yes, one — since it stunned the Five Stripes in a 3-1 victory at Bobby Dodd Stadium on April 30.
That makes for more than eight games of consistent futility.
But Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino is not approaching this game as if it will be easy, no matter that his team has won two consecutive games, including most recently a 3-1 win over Columbus.
“We can’t pay any attention to that,” he said. “We have to come into this game expecting a team that’s averaging three goals a game because we need to keep ourselves focused. When we get into that mindset is when we start to make mistakes.”
That may have been what happened the first time the teams met.
Atlanta United (6-6-3) appeared to be running D.C. United (4-8-3) off Grant Field in the opening 20 minutes of their first match. The team wasted at least five scoring chances as part of its 26 shots in the game. By the time the barrage was finished, all Atlanta United had to show was a 1-0 advantage.
Taking advantage of three individual breakdowns, D.C. United rallied to win. Its three goals were almost one-third of the 10 it has scored all season.
“We learned we can’t take our foot off the gas when we score first,” goalkeeper Alec Kann said. “We’ve done that a few times this year. We are working on it.”
Martino said he hasn’t seen as many errors in other games that would cost the team like those did against D.C. United. But the team hasn’t been perfect, either. Columbus had two good chances in the first five minutes of last week’s game, but couldn’t take advantage.
“Whether it’s been a big save by Kann or the opponent missing a shot, we haven’t been punished as severely for those mistakes,” Martino said. “We know we have to correct those mistakes defensively.”
Because he hasn’t seen D.C. United at training, Martino didn’t want to theorize why the team has had so many issues scoring.
D.C. United is one of two teams that did not sign a Designated Player this season. The high-priced, potentially high-impact signings can be difference-makers. Atlanta United’s three Designated Players — Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron and Martinez — have combined to score 20 of its league-leading 31 goals.
The team was without Martinez in its first meeting with D.C. United. He has since returned from a thigh injury to score in two of his three appearances after missing 10 games. He likely will at least make the 18 for Wednesday’s game.
The only other question regarding the starting lineup will be who fills in for Carlos Carmona, who received his fifth yellow card this season in the win against Columbus and therefore must sit out a game. Martino said there are two options: Julian Gressel can slide from the right midfield into Carmona’s role as a holding midfielder, which would mean moving Villalba to the right, and Martinez back in at striker. Or the team could keep things simple by sliding Kevin Kratz in at holding midfielder.
Kratz said he played holding midfielder in Germany, so he is comfortable in the position. Gressel started the season in that position.
The team likely will play without two key backups: striker Kenwyne Jones (knee) and centerhalf Anton Walkes (leg). Martino said Walkes’ injury, sustained in the U.S. Open Cup win against Charleston in his first start this season, doesn’t seem to be serious. The severity Jones’ injury, sustained while playing for Trinidad and Tobago, hasn’t been assessed because the team is waiting for the swelling to subside.
Walkes participated in individual drills Tuesday. Jones didn’t.
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