Atlanta United attacking trio provides hope

Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez, Marcelino Moreno and Ezequiel Barco started together for only the third time this season against Montreal on Wednesday and the first since April 27.

The trio showed that when used in attacking tactics they can be quite formidable.

Martinez and Moreno each scored a goal in the 2-2 draw. The trio combined to create nine chances with seven shots, three on goal.

“I think it’s down to the coach, we’re trying to do whatever the coach is asking us to do,” Moreno said. “He wants us to play that way, so I think he’s responsible for that change. And I think we’re doing our best to create more scoring chances.”

This was Barco’s first game with the team since leaving to play for Argentina in the Olympics. Under former coach Gabriel Heinze, Martinez was brought along slowly while recovering from his knee injury, so he came off the bench in a few of the early games. And then Barco suffered an injury against New England that forced him to miss several games. When he recovered, he played in the next five games before he left for Tokyo. Martinez missed those games with Barco because he was in Brazil competing for Venezuela in the Copa America. He returned two games after Barco left.

Interim manager Rob Valentino, who took over for the fired Heinze four games ago, has the team trying to get back to its roots of front-foot soccer. Valentino said he wanted Moreno and Barco to occupy different spaces so that they can do what they do best: create. When the team did it, the results were spectacular.

Atlanta United’s first goal against Montreal was created by Barco driving at four Montreal defenders before passing the ball to his right to Martinez. After Martinez got the ball into shooting position, he uncorked a right-footed effort just inside the right post in the 65th minute to tie the score at 1-1. It was Martinez’s second goal in as many games and fourth this season.

“I thought he brought some energy, and he helped out in transition,” Valentino said of Barco. “Hopefully as he keeps going with some games with our squad, he will pick up some momentum and push forward.”

The second goal came when Moreno also drove at several Montreal defenders before putting the ball into space to his right for Martinez to run onto. As he caught up to the ball, he was run over by Montreal’s Rudy Camacho, who was given a red card and Atlanta United a penalty that Moreno converted in the 76th minute for his team-leading fifth goal this season and second in as many games.

Playing centrally instead of on the wing, where he was under previous manager Gabriel Heinze, is helping Moreno, he said.

“I think playing on the inside is where I feel most comfortable, compared to playing outside near the touch line,” he said. “This way, I’m able to combine with Josef and Ezequiel, and we’re trying to create those chances. And I feel very comfortable there.”

The trio likely won’t start together in the next game because Martinez received a red card and subsequently will be forced to miss Saturday’s match at Columbus. The only way Martinez can play is if Atlanta United successfully appeals. It has won one appeal this year.

The team needs its attacking trio because it is winless in 12 games and is nine points behind Columbus in the race of the seventh and final playoff spot with 17 games remaining.

“We talked before the game, not about this particular situation, but in general we talked about when we face adversity what do we look like?” Valentino said. “What does it mean to you? What’s your motivation to push forward. It’s really disappointing that we won’t have him, potentially, but I think as a group we have to be together. There are no excuses.”

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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule

April 17 Atlanta United 0, Orlando 0

April 24 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 1

May 1 New England 2, Atlanta United 1

May 9 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 1,

May 15 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0

May 23 Atlanta United 1, Seattle 1