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Atlanta United continued rolling through its preseason schedule with a 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Union Wednesday afternoon. It’s Atlanta’s second straight “win” (as if the results of these things really matter) of the preseason after beating New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Friday in a 60-minute scrimmage. It should also be noted that Atlanta is ahead of Philadelphia in their preseason training schedule, as this was the Union’s first preseason competition.
What’s more important is to try to understand how well the team played — not just the scoreline. And, with us not being there to see it first hand or to watch via stream, it’s a little more difficult to discern. So we’ll go with some tweets from the AJC’s own Doug Roberson who is on the ground.
Oh, and to catch back up, here’s the Starting XI:
3-x-x (idc what you wanna call it): Guzan, Lennon, Escobar, Robinson, Meza, Mulraney (LWB), Remedi, Hyndman, Pity Martinez, Ezequiel Barco, Josef Martinez
#ATLUTD is underway
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Goal. #ATLUTD. J. Martinez from Hyndman. Barco created pressue. Ball won by Hyndman.
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Here’s the goal:
New season, same @JosefMartinez17 pic.twitter.com/r9Dc12s8c1
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) January 29, 2020
These tweets were sent in the same minute, so that’s a good start. The pressure is important. That is what manager Frank de Boer is working on with the team in preseason — to get the team all on the same page when the pressing opportunities arise.
Mulraney creates a turnover. Pity wins a FK about 22 yards out in center of pitch. #ATLUTD
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Own goal, forced by Mulraney. 5th minute. #ATLUTD 2-0
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Mulraney will certainly be getting in the good graces of the coaching staff with this kind of stuff.
Meza and Mulraney communicating on a press was interesting. Mulraney waited until Meza came over, then Meza told Mulraney to "go, go, go"#ATLUTD
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Ok so maybe there are still some kinks to be worked out.
Really good ball from Remedi here. https://t.co/TKYaFAjdib
— Chris Winkler (@ChrisWinklerUSC) January 29, 2020
Remedi appears to have had an excellent game contributing to the attack. He seems to be heavily involved in link-up play. And if the team’s communications staffer is making note of a pass, it was a good pass.
ATLUTD 4-0. Pity from Josef from Lennon. #ATLUTD
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
That’s two goals for Pity. Here’s the footage:
Calm and composed
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) January 29, 2020
Pity Martínez finishes off a quick #ATLUTD counter attack. pic.twitter.com/2OMrMtTMyW
HALFTIME SUBS: Bello on for Mulraney. Larentowicz on for Remedi.
...
SUB! 60’ Adams on for Hyndman.
Great pass from Adams to Bello. His cross is knocked out for a corner in the 70th minute. Subs coming on really soon. #ATLUTD
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
This is not all that important of a tweet in and of itself, but Bello seems to be working quite high up the field and players are finding him running into space down the left side.
Robinson, Lennon, J. Martinez, P. Martinez off
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) January 29, 2020
Wyke, Castillo, Jahn, Academy player on. #ATLUTD
I’ll just let Doug type the subs for me. Note: the Academy player was actually somebody named Goodrum who Atlanta selected in the college draft. Same difference. Will Reilly (an academy CM whose name you should remember) also came on for Barco.
FULL TIME
So that does it. Atlanta won 4-0, once again with all the goals coming in the first half of the action. We’ll update this post with videos and things as they become available from the club.
UPDATE 8:45 p.m.
Full Highlights