Effort, fight, mentality, communication and intelligence are a few of Atlanta United’s keys to keep doing Sunday against Orlando what it did well in Wednesday’s victory against Real Salt Lake, according to manager Gonzalo Pineda and several of his players.
All of those were key to the team’s victory against Real Salt Lake. It was its first win in its past nine MLS games.
Sunday’s game will provide a chance to put together a win streak for the first time this season ... if the players keep doing what they did.
“I think we set a very high standard on Wednesday of what it takes to win a game,” midfielder Amar Sejdic said. “We set the bar, and now we know that this is what it takes to compete and to win games at this level. And we just kind of need to sustain it and keep this kind of feeling alive.”
The game is important not only to boost the team’s confidence but because it is within three points of the seventh and final playoff spot, and six points from potentially hosting a playoff game. Orlando, which is in fifth with 29 points, is one of the teams the Five Stripes are chasing.
“Well, just the message has to be clear; I think the message is very clear,” Pineda said. “We know how we can get results. And I think the team just needs to continue with that. And that type of mentality has to stick with a team for the rest of the season. Regardless of how good football we play, or how good results we get, we have to fight and compete the same way we did.”
Though the Five Stripes were set up on defense against Real Salt Lake with three centerbacks, instead of Pineda’s preferred two, they still played some of their best soccer this season. The team’s first goal came against a opponent whose defensive lines were set, which is something Atlanta United has had problems breaking through this season, and then a moment of opportunity when a turnover was created in Real Salt Lake’s defensive third. Both were scored by Ronaldo Cisneros, with help from Thiago Almada on the first and Matheus Rossetto on the second.
On defense, what will be needed against Orlando will be the same things the team did well against Real Salt Lake. The players worked as a unit in the back line of five fronted by a group of four. Pineda said he was very pleased with the intelligence shown by the players.
“Let’s work with full concentration, also understanding the moments of the game,” Pineda said. “So I think there were many, many positives, not just yeah, the hard work. That ethos, yes, that was fantastic. But it was also intelligence for my players. And I’m very pleased with that.”
Real Salt Lake’s lone goal came during a lapse of concentration by Atlanta United, so there is still room to improve. In a good sign for the team’s mentality, it didn’t lose confidence or concentration after that goal. It ended the half by denying RSL another good opportunity. The team hasn’t consistently reacted well during games when something goes against it.
It also reacted well in the final minutes when RSL pumped in cross after cross and corner after corner. Defending set pieces has been an issue for the team this season. It has allowed nine goals from those situations. Pineda and the players said successfully defending those often comes down to desire.
“We always say it is life or death in that area, and it is very important to make sure that we are switched on, especially toward the end of the match when people are tired,” fullback Caleb Wiley said Wednesday. “But we just have to stay with it and finish out the match, which is what we did.”
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0
April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0
April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1
April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1
May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2
May 21 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
May 28 Columbus 2, Atlanta United 1
June 19 Atlanta United 2, Miami 0
June 25 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 1
June 30 New York Red Bulls 2, Atlanta United 1
July 3 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 9 Austin 3, Atlanta United 0
July 13 Atlanta United 2, Real Salt Lake 1
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
August 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
August 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 21 at Columbus, 5:30 p.m., FS1
August 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
August 31 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
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