Atlanta United’s newest signing ready to try to help team make MLS playoffs

Being the first Colombian to sign with Atlanta United and joining other young countrymen in MLS are two of the reasons that Edwin Mosquera said he signed with the Five Stripes.

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Mosquera, a 21-year-old winger, signed an Under-22 player contract July 12. After securing his work visa, he joined the club Tuesday and went through his first two training sessions Wednesday and Thursday.

The club will host Seattle on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He said he will be ready if called upon by manager Gonzalo Pineda. Mosquera worked with an Atlanta United trainer while in Colombia waiting on his paperwork.

“I’m here to contribute to the team,” he said. “So I’m willing to do whatever, whatever’s needed of me to try and help the team, and hopefully we can make the playoffs.”

Pineda said that Mosquera will be used as a winger because his pace is something that can threaten defenses. Those who have watched him train said he was blowing past defenders.

“He’s the type of player that can unbalance any back line because of his pace, because of his ability to win one-on-ones, because of his ability to run in behind,” Pineda said. “And also he can be on both sides. So I think that’s something that probably we really didn’t have before.”

The team needs something to spark its offense. It hasn’t scored in 199 minutes but remains only four points below the playoff line.

Mosquera said he has watched the past four games and feels the team is playing excellently and creating enough chances. It’s just missing the ability to finish those chances.

Mosquera is trying to build chemistry with his teammates so that he can help them finish those opportunities. He had four assists in 55 appearances for clubs in Colombia, Argentina and Brazil.

“As they say, there’s no language in soccer,” he said. “So I think that’ll continue to grow.”

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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