The Daily Dirt, March 19: Support

The talk in the press box after yesterday’s Atlanta United 4-0 win over Chicago was the crowd. For an open air stadium without a roof, it was really loud in Bobby Dodd Stadium yesterday. The ATL thunderclap chant went over incredibly well, as did the “Atlanta” “United” back and forth across the stadium. Simple things, but they came across incredibly well.

The most impressive thing to me while calling the game was early in the second half. United needed a lift. They had been playing against a ten-man Chicago team that packed eight players in front of their goal. The Fire looked like two lines of four in their defensive third of the field. This made it incredibly hard for Atlanta to break down and Tata Martino’s squad was growing frustrated.

The crowd started the thunderclap and it just kept getting louder and louder in the stadium. It really seemed to give the players a boost and the intensity picked back up. Miguel Almiron began to increase the pace of the game, playing faster and faster, until he found Josef Martinez between the two Chicago center backs. They combined on Martinez’s first goal in the 60th minute and the contest was effectively over at that point.

Credit to the 17’s, they put in a strong shift yesterday and, from my vantage point, had an impact on the game when the team needed them.

Domestic

In a battle of unbeaten teams, the Portland Timbers defeated the Houston Dynamo 4-2 (Stumptown Footy)

Portland’s winning goal from David Guzman:

Late rally gives LA Galaxy the win over RSL (LAG Confidential)

Dave Romney scored the equalizer for the Galaxy on this volleyed blast:

Orlando City defeats Philadelphia 2-1 (New Day Review)

Maxi Urruti’s second goal of the game was the difference for FC Dallas in their 2-1 win over the New England Revolution (Big D Soccer)

Minnesota earns their first point in MLS with a 2-2 draw in Colorado (E Pluribus Loonum)

Was Justin Davis’ red card deserved?

Columbus Crew earn their first win of 2017 2-0 against DC United (Massive Report)

Big win for Toronto FC on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps (Waking the Red)

A recap of all of the USL changes ahead of their opening weekend next week (SoccerNation)

International

A recap of the action from Australia’s A-League (FourFourTwo)