Full of confidence after back-to-back victories, Atlanta United will attempt to keep its positive run going at Toronto on Saturday.
The Five Stripes are coming off victories against Pachuca in a friendly and a shutout of Miami in a league game. The Toronto matchup will be the first of three consecutive road games - the longest stretch away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season.
“That was really important for us,” fullback Brooks Lennon said. “That was one of our goals, going into the last game, is to not concede. In MLS, when you don’t concede goals, you pick up points. So it’s very important to not concede at home. And we’re looking to continue that.”
A key to stopping Toronto and getting another shutout, which would be the fourth this season, is to stop Jesus Jimenez (seven goals, three assists), Alejandro Pozuelo (four goals, four assists) and Jonathan Osorio (three goals, four assists).
Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said he expects Toronto will try to dictate the tempo of the game with high pressure and breaking lines through the middle to get its talented offensive players the ball as closely as possible to Atlanta United’s goal.
Pineda said Atlanta United is going to have to very smart in possession and when it tries to break Toronto’s lines with passing and movement.
“That’s going to be the test for our team,” he said.
If Atlanta United can break Toronto’s lines, which has allowed 29 goals this season, Josef Martinez and/or Luiz Araujo are poised to punish the hosts. They each scored and assisted the other on both of Atlanta United’s goals against Miami. It was just the second league game this season in which they started together.
The chemistry being developed between them, as well as with Marcelino Moreno and Ronaldo Cisneros, is evident.
“It’s not just having the time together, but the way they are connecting to each other. It’s been impressive not just in the games but in training sessions.” Pineda said. “They’ve been doing something that we say ‘Wow, what a fantastic play.’”
If Atlanta United can win for just the second time in its history at Toronto’s BMO Field, it has a chance to move above the seven-team playoff line in the Eastern Conference with games at the Red Bulls and NYCFC coming next week.
“I think the good thing about this squad this year is no matter what has happened with injuries or results or whatever, we’ve kind of stayed steady,” Lennon said. “I don’t think we’ve gotten too low. And we haven’t gotten too high when when we’ve been doing well. So you know, we’ve had the same exact mentality throughout the season. And now, we’re just kicking into next gear, because we’re trying to climb up that table.”
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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 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 30 at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 3 at NYCFC, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 9 vs. Austin, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
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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