Replicating its excellent home form will be the biggest challenge for Atlanta United when it faces New England on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
The Five Stripes went 5-0-1, scoring 22 goals and allowing just three, in its six-game homestand at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. During that stretch, the team moved from a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference into third place and within three points of tying second-place NYCFC, which it could do this weekend.
But the New England (11-15-5) that Atlanta United (15-8-7) will face on what is expected to be a chilly and rainy night in Foxborough, Mass., won’t be the same team that the Five Stripes demolished 7-0 three weeks ago. That game was exceptionally weird, mostly because the Revolution had two players sent off in the first half. New England followed that abject performance with a 3-1 loss at Sporting KC, a 2-1 shocking win over Toronto and then were drilled by Orlando City 6-1 on Wednesday in which they had another player ejected.
Still, despite its recent poor form, New England is mathematically alive in the race to reach one of the two remaining playoff spots in the East. The Revs also are much better at home (11-2-2) than they have been on the road (0-13-3).
“It’s going to be a difficult game,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “New England is a team trying to fight for one of those last playoff spots, and we are going for the second spot. I imagine it’s going to be a very intense game.”
Martino said New England uses a different formation and different tactics at home compared with on the road. He said he expects the Revs to use as many as four forwards (two wingers, two in the middle) Saturday.
But offense, led by Lee Nguyen, hasn’t been the team’s problem this season. Though it has scored 48 goals, it has allowed an East-worst 58. Only the Galaxy (61) and Minnesota (59) have allowed more.
Atlanta United defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez said handling New England’s players will be a challenge. Atlanta United can rely on the experience of posting five shutouts in its past six games, increasing its total to 10 this season.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said the team is improving at managing games, particularly when they have a lead.
“You look at the pitch, we’ve got guys in the attacking third, defending third, middle of the pitch that have played a lot of games,” he said. “Internationals who know what difficult games are about.”
If Atlanta United can earn the win it will move into what may be a temporary tie for second with NYCFC, which will play at Chicago at 8:30 p.m. Atlanta United will get another chance Tuesday when it hosts Minnesota. The Five Stripes will be without Josef Martinez and the injured Miguel Almiron, and likely without Guzan for that game.
The team wants that second seed because it comes with a bye in the playoffs.
The first-round playoff games will be played Oct. 25 or Oct. 26. The first leg of the semifinals will be played Oct. 30 or Oct. 31. The second leg will be played Nov. 5. The Eastern Conference championship’s first leg will be held Nov. 21, with the second leg Nov. 28 or Nov. 29.
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