My choice for Atlanta United’s man of the match from Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Minnesota United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:

JULIAN GRESSEL

Midfielder

Why? His fifth goal of the season gave Atlanta United a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute. Sprinting down the right and behind Minnesota United's defense, Gressel latched onto a pass from Yamil Asad, turned one defender and then connected with his left foot.

“It’s funny because we actually talked about it before – how there was a similar situation in New England where he had the ball on the left side of the box and I was screaming for it but he didn’t see me and he played it down to Chris McCann on the left side. I think maybe he had that in his mind a little bit, where now, I was wide open again on the right and when he looked over and he played a great ball in.”

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Former Silverbacks coach Gary Smith led Colorado to an MLS title in 2010. Smith not only knows MLS, he’s familiar with Atlanta. (North American Soccer League)

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(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero | Sources: Hyosub Shin for AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC