Atlanta United will host Columbus in the first round of the MLS playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
For those who are new supporters of the team, here’s a guide to the players that helped the Five Stripes become the first MLS expansion team since Seattle in 2009 to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Miguel Almiron
Position: Midfielder
Home: Asuncion, Paraguay
Age: 23
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 30/27.
One of the team’s three Designated Players. ... Signed from Lanus in Argentina’s first division. … Scored nine goals with 13 assists. … Very fast, has great vision and is tenacious on defense. … Reportedly a target of clubs in Europe. … Returned from hamstring injury that cost him four games to play in second half of 2-2 draw with Toronto.
Mikey Ambrose
Position: Left fullback
Home: El Paso, Texas
Age: 23
Twitter: @mikeyambrose3
Appearances/starts: 7/2.
Atlanta United acquired him in the expansion draft from Orlando City. … Very fast and has done well in spot starts at left back.
Yamil Asad
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Home: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Age: 23
Twitter: @yamilasad11
Appearances/starts: 32/31.
Like many of the midfielders on the roster, he can be deployed at a variety of positions. … Very quick with a solid right-footed shot. … Atlanta United acquired him on a loan from Velez Sarsfield in Argentina. … Finished regular season with seven goals and 13 assists. …A tough defender in the Gerardo Martino’s pressing system.
Mark Bloom
Position: Right fullback
Home: Marietta
Age: 29
Twitter: @markbloom21
Appearances/starts: 2/2.
Can play right or left fullback, but prefers to play on the right side. … Atlanta United acquired him in a trade following the expansion draft. … Played at Lassiter High and Berry College.
Bobby Boswell
Position: Centerback.
Home: Tampa.
Age: 34
Twitter: @bobbyboswell
Appearances/starts: 1/0 (with Atlanta United).
Acquired in a trade with D.C. United. … Has yet to make an appearance for Atlanta United. … MLS Defender of the Year in 2006. … Two appearances in MLS Cup with Houston in 2011 and ’12.
Andrew Carleton
Position: Midfielder
Home: Powder Springs
Age: 17
Twitter: @andrewcarleton7
Appearances/starts: 1/0.
The team’s first Homegrown Player signing. … Atlanta United beat out at least one club in Europe to sign him. … A very confident player who plays older than his 16 years. …
Carlos Carmona
Position: Defensive midfielder
Home: Coquimbo, Chile
Age: 30
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 31/30.
Signed after Atalanta in Italy terminated his contract by mutual consent. … Made more than 150 appearances with two different teams in Italy. … Very calm on the ball. … Formed a solid partnership with Jeff Larentowicz in the center of the field. … Scored two goals with two assists.
Greg Garza
Position: Left fullback
Home: Grapevine, Texas
Age: 26
Twitter: @gmgarza4
Appearances/starts: 26/25.
Acquired on a season-long loan with an option to purchase from Tijuana in Mexico’s first division. … A good crosser of the ball. … Has missed the past few games after sustaining a series of hamstring injuries in September. … Has two goals and five assists.
Chris Goslin
Position: Midfielder
Home: Locust Grove
Age: 17
Twitter: @chrisgoslin17
Appearances/starts: 0/0.
The team’s second Homegrown Player signing. … Has represented the U.S. on a variety of levels of youth national teams. … Product of Georgia United.
Julian Gressel
Position: Midfielder
Home: Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany
Age: 23
Twitter: @juliangressel
Appearances/starts: 32/24.
Selected with the eight pick in the first round of the SuperDraft. … Can play most positions in the midfield. … Favorite to win MLS Rookie of the Year. … Has five goals and nine assists. … Fast and tough with an example being him chasing down Jozy Altidore and shouldering him off the ball in Sunday’s draw.
Brad Guzan
Position: Goalkeeper
Home: Evergreen Park, Ill.
Age: 33.
Twitter: @bguzan.
Appearances/starts: 14/14.
Acquired from Middlesbrough in the English Premier League. … Had a shutout streak of 541 minutes, sixth longest in league history. … Good with his feet at distributing the ball.
Harrison Heath
Position: Midfielder
Home: Newcastle-under-Lyme, England
Age: 21
Twitter: @harrisonheathy1
Appearances/starts: 1/0.
Acquired in a trade with Orlando City, where he played previous three seasons. … He is the son of Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath, who is formerly the coach at Orlando.
Kenwyne Jones
Position: Forward
Home: Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago
Age: 32
Twitter: @kenwynejonestt
Appearances/starts: 17/5.
One of the first players signed by Atlanta United. … Scored 86 goals as a player in England in the Premier League, Championship and League One. … At 6-foot-2, he is a big target in the penalty box for crosses or on corner kicks. … Has two goals this season.
Alec Kann
Position: Goalkeeper
Home: Decatur
Age: 27
Twitter: @akann90
Appearances/starts: 18/18.
Acquired in the expansion draft from Sporting Kansas City, where he made seven appearances. … Started team’s first 18 games before sustaining an injury at Columbus.
Kevin Kratz
Position: Midfielder
Home: Eschweiler, Germany
Age: 30
Twitter: @kevinkratz8
Appearances/starts: 20/5.
Grew up in the Bayer Leverkusen academy in Germany. … Signed with MLS and joined Philadelphia last season. … Was acquired by Atlanta United in a trade. … Excellent at free kicks.
Jeff Larentowicz
Position: Midfielder/Centerback
Home: West Chester, Pa.
Age: 34
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 33/30.
Signed as a free agent. … Has more than 300 appearances in MLS. … Won the MLS Cup with Colorado. … Can play defensive midfielder or centerback. … Pairs well with Carmona in the middle of the field.
Josef Martinez
Position: Forward
Home: Valencia, Valenzuela
Age: 24
Twitter: @JosefMartinez17
Appearances/starts: 20/17.
Acquired as a Designated Player on loan from Torino in Italy’s first division. … Can play as a lone striker, second striker or winger. … Has 19 goals this season … Very fast, a very good leaper and good with either foot.
Chris McCann
Position: Midfielder
Home: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 30
Twitter: @cjmccann7
Appearances/starts: 23/9.
Among the first players signed by Atlanta United. … Spent majority of his career in England, with more than 350 appearances for Wigan Athletic and Burnley. … Has played across the midfield and at left fullback.
Tyrone Mears
Position: Right fullback
Home: Manchester, England
Age: 34
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 20/16.
Acquired in a trade with Seattle. … Notched the first assist in team history. … Has one goal this season, an important one that tied Philadelphia 2-2. … Made more than 200 appearances in England playing for teams in the Premier League and Championship.
Michael Parkhurst
Position: Centerback
Home: Cranston, R.I.
Age: 33
Twitter: @mfparkhurst
Appearances/starts: 33/33.
Team captain. … Acquired in a trade with Columbus, where he was also captain. … Reads games very well and has formed solid partnership with Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in the center of the defense.
Jacob Peterson
Position: Midfielder
Home: Portage, Mich.
Age: 31
Twitter: @jacobpeterson37
Appearances/starts: 10/1.
Signed as a free agent after spending the previous five seasons with Sporting Kansas City. … Has nine appearances with three goals.
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
Position: Centerback
Home: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Age: 24
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 32/32.
Acquired from Estudiantes in Argentina’s first division. … Made more than 100 appearances for clubs in Argentina and Belgium. … Has played for Argentina’s youth national teams. … Does have a tendency to pick up yellow cards because of his aggressive style.
Kyle Reynish
Position: Goalkeeper
Home: Valencia, Calif.
Age: 33
Twitter: @kylereynish24
Appearances/starts: 2/2.
Veteran has spent time with many MLS clubs. … Acquired from the New York Red Bulls in a trade.
Miles Robinson
Position: Centerback/fullback
Home: Arlington, Mass.
Age: 20
Twitter: @_milesrobinson_
Appearances/starts: 0/0.
Selected No. 2 in the first round of the SuperDraft. … All-ACC performer at Syracuse. … An aerial threat on set pieces. ... Has yet to make an appearance in league games this season.
Alex Tambakis
Position: Goalkeeper
Home: Athens, Greece
Age: 24
Twitter: N/A
Appearances/starts: 1/0.
Atlanta United’s first signed player. … Came from Greek-power Panathinaikos. … Mother is American. … Has one appearance this season.
Brandon Vazquez
Position: Forward
Home: Chula, Vista, Calif.
Age: 19
Twitter: @brvndonv
Appearances/starts: 13/0.
Acquired from Tijuana where he was a teammate of Garza. … Has played at striker and as right midfielder. … Has one goal and one assist in 13 league appearances. … Sustained a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for past few games.
Hector Villalba
Position: Midfielder.
Home: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Age: 23
Twitter: @titovillalba15
Appearances/starts: 34/34.
The team’s first Designated Player. … Has an inconsistent first touch but it one of the faster players in MLS. … Played at San Lorenzo in Argentina, a club he joined 10 years ago. … Scored 13 goals with 11 assists.
Anton Walkes
Position: Centerback/Defensive midfielder
Home: Lewisham, England
Age: 20
Twitter: @antonwalkes
Appearances/starts: 20/17.
Acquired on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. … Can play centerback or defensive midfielder. … Fast with a good passing range.
Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
Position: Midfielder/Fullback
Home: Bellingham, Mass.
Age: 22
Twitter: @andrew_w_o
Appearances/starts: 0/0.
Selected in third round of SuperDraft. …. Can play in midfield or fullback. … Captained the Harvard team. … No appearances in league games this season.
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