Fresh off of opening Audi Field in winning fashion, D.C. United travel to Atlanta for a rematch with Eastern Conference leading Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 PM on Univision Deportes Network and Twitter.
Ben Olsen and company will look to avenge a 3-1 road loss against Atlanta earlier this season. It was the Black-and-Red’s first loss to the second-year club ever, and they’re hoping to carry the momentum from their electric home opener into enemy territory.
With just four losses on the season, two of which have come in their home stadium, Atlanta boasts the league’s most formidable offensive attack as they lead the league with 43 goals on the season.
Heading the attack for Atlanta is the league leader in goals, Josef Martinez. The electrifying forward has scored 19 goals on 33 shots on goal in the 2018 campaign, seven more tallies than the league’s next-highest goalscorer.
D.C.’s defensive responsibilities don’t begin and end with Martinez, though, as Atlanta also relies on dynamic midfielder Miguel Almirón to create chances. With an eye for creating his own shot, Almirón’s 32 shots on net ranks him as third in the league, only trailing Martinez and Houston forward Alberth Elis. Almirón’s propensity to shoot, however, can’t distract the D.C. defenders from his passing, as the midfielder ranks fifth in the league with nine assists.
In United’s attacking third of the pitch, the midfielders and forwards will look to continue the momentum and chemistry they displayed during their win over Vancouver. With a number of exquisite passing sequences, the Black-and-Red generated chance after chance in that contest, resulting in a brace for Paul Arriola and Audi Field’s first-ever goal from Yamil Asad.
The creativity displayed by the Black-and-Red on Audi Field’s grass will need to carry over into Saturday’s match against a top-five defense in terms of goals conceded. The deep stable of playmakers and goal scorers will need to maintain possession, a tool that will combat Atlanta’s offense, and create chances for shots on goal with precision passing.
If a passing sequence ends at the feet of Asad with a chance to take a shot on goal, the 23-year-old forward will take the shot with a little extra motivation in mind. The Argentinian debuted in MLS with Atlanta and ranked second on the team with 13 assists while also notching seven goals. Despite being a key contributor to the team’s playoff run in their inaugural season in MLS, Asad's rights were traded to D.C. during the offseason.
