Who will be in Atlanta United’s starting 11 when it takes on New York Red Bulls in the second leg of the Eastern Conference finals of the MLS playoffs on Thursday?
The Five Stripes defeated the Red Bulls 3-0 in Sunday’s first leg at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It will advance to the MLS Cup on Dec. 8 if it allows two or fewer goals. It will advance if it allows three or fewer goals, as long as it scores one. It will need extra time if it allows three goals, if it doesn’t score any.
So, manager Gerardo Martino has a few things to think about.
Should he bunker with a defensive-minded lineup, gambling that the Red Bulls can’t score three times?
Atlanta United did post the best road record in MLS history with 32 points and 28 goals scored with 25 against.
However, Red Bulls did go 14-2-1 at home, with 36 goals scored and 10 against. It scored at least three goals nine times, including six times at home, and at least four goals twice, both times at home.
Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhurst said it would be very difficult to try to defend the penalty box for 90 minutes.
Or, should he field an offensive-minded lineup that will push for the road goal that will effectively kill the series?
Doing so could cause Atlanta United to stretch itself thin, opening it to Red Bulls counterattacks and easy opportunities.
Or, should Martino try to strike a balance?
Here are a look at three lineups, one to reflect each scenario:
ULTRA DEFENSIVE
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Miles Robinson
Centerback Michael Parkhurst
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
Right wingback Franco Escobar
Left wingback Chris McCann
Defensive midfielder Eric Remedi
Defensive midfielder Jeff Larentowicz
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe
Midfielder Miguel Almiron
Striker Josef Martinez
Though this is a 3-5-2, it would function more as a 5-3-2 with the wingbacks staying back and relying on Nagbe, Almiron and Martinez to put something together with counterattacks. Robinson and McCann would come in to help defend set pieces.
ROAD-KILLERS AND GOAL-SCORERS
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Jeff Larentowicz
Centerback Michael Parkhurst
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
Right wingback Julian Gressel
Left wingback Greg Garza
Defensive midfielder Eric Remedi
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe
Midfielder Miguel Almiron
Striker Hector Villalba
Striker Josef Martinez
Villalba would move in as a second striker. The goal would be to have him play wide, away from Martinez, to try to take advantage of a one-on-one- matchup with either Tim Parker or Aaron Long.
Gressel and Garza would come in as wingbacks to put in crosses.
BALANCE
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Jeff Larentowicz
Centerback Michael Parkhurst
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
Right wingback Franco Escobar
Left wingback Greg Garza
Defensive midfielder Eric Remedi
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe
Midfielder Julian Gressel
Midfielder Miguel Almiron
Striker Josef Martinez
This is the same lineup Martino used in the first game. It seemed to work fine
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