Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino explained Friday why he took the unusual step during Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Charleston in the U.S. Open Cup to take two defenders off at halftime with his team trailing 2-1.
The move was made not because Martino was dissatisfied with the play of right fullback Zach Loyd and centerhalf Miles Robinson, it was because he was dissatisfied with the offense.
Martino said Charleston was letting Atlanta United play out of the back on the right side. He said either Anton Walkes, the other starter at centerhalf, or Jeff Larentowicz, who started as the holding midfielder, are better at making that first pass than Robinson, a rookie who was making his MLS debut.
So, Martino elected to take Robinson off and shift Larentowicz to centerhalf.
He took Loyd out at the same time because he is not a natural right fullback, and it was his first game in more than a year. His rhythm was off. Martino elected to bring on Mikey Ambrose at halftime, put him at his natural position of left fullback, and shift Mark Bloom from left to the right fullback, which is his natural position.
Atlanta United’s third goal, scored by Brandon Vazquez, came from a pass made by Ambrose on the left.
The assumption was Martino made the switch because Robinson seemed indirectly responsible for Charleston’s first two goals.
Charleston’s first goal came when Forrest Lasso outjumped Robinson and appeared to head the ball into the opposite corner in the third minute on a long throw-in. Charleston’s second goal came when a shot deflected off Robinson’s foot.
Martino said on the first goal, Robinson and Larentowicz did exactly as they are coached by sandwiching Lasso. Martino said the ball actually bounced off Lasso’s shoulder. Martino described the goal as fortunate.
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