Here are five things to know about Atlanta United this week:
1. The Five Stripes are coming off a 3-1 win against Philadelphia that was filled with controversy but notable because Josef Martinez tied the MLS mark for hat tricks in a career.
2. The victory kept the team atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 29 points. It has scored the most goals (30) and is third in goal difference (12).
3. The hat trick put more distance between Martinez, the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals, and New York Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips (9) and Columbus Gyasi Zardes (9) in the race for the Golden Boot. Miguel Almiron still leads MLS in shots (72) and is second behind Houston’s Alberth Elis in shots on goal (24), with Martinez second (23).
4. Atlanta United begins play in the U.S. Open Cup this week. It will host Charleston at Kennesaw State on Wednesday. The Battery are unbeaten in their past 11 games and have two players on loan from Atlanta United in Gordon Wild and Patrick Okonkwo. Wild has three goals in 11 appearances. Atlanta United’s 18 for the game will feature many of the younger and less-used players from the senior team. That group includes Andrew Carleton, Brandon Vazquez and Miles Robinson, among others.
5. Atlanta United will return to league action on Saturday with the first of what should be two very tough road games at NYCFC in Yankee Stadium followed by at Columbus on June 13. NYCFC is second in the East with 27 points and Columbus fought back from three goals down to tie Toronto last weekend and move into third in the East with 26 points.
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