Know Your Enemy | A Hungry Opponent Awaits the Union in Atlanta | Philadelphia Union

When The Athletic wrote about Philadelphia Union’s rise to the highest of MLS, one simple level of comparability was Atlanta United FC. Whereas the Union’s roster is made up of hidden gems and academy expertise, Atlanta’s is stuffed filled with undeniably proficient however extraordinarily costly gamers who all play some model of a ‘dynamic attacker’ position, plus Santiago Sosa. 

Atlanta typically targeted on controlling the ball to regulate video games this season, however as they scrap for a playoff place, the 5 Stripes adopted a extra forceful method towards the ball, letting Orlando Metropolis SC personal it on Wednesday night time earlier than punishing them with Thiago Almada — a breakout star ready to crash into American soccer followers’ collective consciousness. Almada is a shocking participant, however he’s one in all many gamers attempting to be ‘the man’ in Atlanta, and the steadiness hasn’t been struck effectively but. 

An opportunity at sneaking into the playoffs, nevertheless, means Atlanta can be rocking Saturday afternoon when Philadelphia rolls into city with their second five-match profitable streak within the final three months. 

Jim Curtin’s males know that the one factor that may cease them is their very own mentality. It has pushed them previous LAFC and Austin into the highest spot within the Supporters’ Defend race, and now they’ve to keep up a Philly edge whereas realizing that each crew within the league sees them as the most important match of the yr. 

Key for the Union can be pouncing on Atlanta throughout build-up play so the 5 Stripes can’t create isolations within the attacking half. If the Union can pressure free passes in Atlanta’s defensive third and midfield, they’ll discover success towards a protection that has been preventing the damage bug all season. If, nevertheless, the Union don’t keep in prime gear, they are going to be punished by one of many many attackers Atlanta can throw out towards them. 

A giant focus for Philly can be dominating the left facet of the pitch to allow them to push up that wing and permit the precise facet of their crew to swing ahead in help and pin again Atlanta’s wingers. This can make it far tougher for the house crew to ascertain linked assaults and it permits the Union’s defenders to foul in secure areas in the event that they want to take action. 

This matchup appears gentle years away 2019 when the Union knocked off a heavily-favored Atlanta facet in Philadelphia to clinch a playoff berth. Now the tables have turned and the red-and-black are preventing for the postseason because the Union set their websites of the Jap Convention, the Supporters’ Defend, Concacaf Champions League, and MLS Cup. Jim Curtin stated his crew needs all of it. They’ll attempt to show it Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET once they kick off in Atlanta, broadcast reside on Univision, TUDN, and Twitter.