Atlanta United vs. FC Dallas: Illustrated box score

Put aside everything you think you know about Atlanta United, yesterday the team showed how good they can really be. This was the first game that everything truly came together for the team. Opening the year at Bobby Dodd Stadium provided some terrific moments, but it showed that the team was only about 75% ready to start the season.

The Five Stripes played their first 9 home games under less than ideal circumstances. Bobby Dodd Stadium was an absolutely amazing venue and despite being a temporary home, the club created an experience that rivals the best gameday atmospheres in the world. That said, after yesterday, it seems like the team was missing a few key pieces to start the year.

The wider pitch at Mercedes Benz Stadium created a lot more space for the team to exploit and getting an international quality goalkeeper in Brad Guzan in the mix finally means that United has brought together all of the elements that the team was built around. Last night it showed as the box score illustrates:

Just a few notes:

• Miguel Almiron and Yamil Asad smacked the post or the game would have been a lot worse for Dallas.
• Tito forced Jesse Gonzalez to make a few amazing saves and he will be a menace on the right wing to teams at home from now on.
• Carmona and Larentowicz didn’t even have to draw a yellow card to breakup a dangerous play.

• Atlanta got Geiger’d and it didn’t matter.
• Dallas forgot how to do anything with the ball, they had a few - very few - OK chances but failed to look like they were ever in the game at all.

This is certainly a performance that Atlanta United can build upon as they look to continue to beat up on opponents sitting lower in the table than them this week.