Atlanta United

Thousands Rally For Atlanta United Fc During First Home Game Ever

... first goal in Atlanta United history late in the first half for a 1-0 lead. The Red Bulls finally pulled even in the second half. Shortly after Atlanta goalkeeper Alec Kann blocked a shot by New York's Felipe, the Red Bulls scored on a header by Daniel Royer in the 76 th minute. Officials ruled Atlanta's Anton Walkes kicked the ball into the Atlanta United net for the Red Bulls' go-ahead goal. New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips appeared to score the goal on a pass from Kemar Lawrence in the 83 rd minute, but the decisive contact on the ball was ruled to have come from Walkes. Atlanta United's Carlos Carmona was sent off after drawing a red card in the 88 th minute. Positioned to the left of the goal, Asad waved his arm to show he was open and Tyrone Mears delivered a well-placed pass. Asad quickly hooked the shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles in the 25 th minute for the first goal in United history. Asad fell to the grass near the end line. Several teammates piled on top of him in a celebration cheered by fans. Remember this moment. — Atlanta United ...

Importance Of Set Pieces For Atlanta United

... teams that won back-to-back MLS Cups. He credited their ability to score set pieces as a reason why. “Worked on them 3-4 times a week,”’ he said. “We had a real understanding of where you needed to be in certain moments. “Most important thing is delivery. You have to have a guy put a ball in a dangerous spot.”. Atlanta United scored on a set piece in its first preseason game in Chattanooga. It wasn’t a practiced kick. It was the result of disorganization by Chattanooga. Seeing their opponent wasn’t ready, Andrew Carleton completed a short pass, or short corner as it is also known, to Julian Gressel, who hit a cross into the penalty box. Josef Martinez dove at the ball – risking a cleat or fist to the face – and headed the cross into the goal. “You have to be brave, you have to be courageous,” midfielder Jeff Larentowicz said. “Putting your head in a dangerous place, taking a chance, takes courage.”. When midfielder Miguel Almiron is playing, it appears he will take the corner kicks and the direct kicks. ...

What To Expect From Atlanta United’s Forwards

... Atlanta United players celebrate the third goal scored by forward Josef Martinez (right) in the preseason opening win against Chattanooga. (Miguel Martinez). The fullback didn’t notice Josef Martinez lurking nearby when he casually passed the ball toward his goalkeeper. Martinez pounced, intercepting the pass, faking out the goalkeeper, and scoring to give Atlanta United a 1-0 lead in first minute of their game against Seattle in the Carolina Challenge Cup. While forwards on any soccer team are required to score, Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino also asks his forwards, or strikers, to serve as the first line of defense. Martinez aggressively pressing the Seattle defender, stealing the ball, and scoring is the best example from the preseason of how Martino wants them to play. “They start the press,” he said. “They are in charge of starting the pressure and indicate to everyone behind them (what to do).”. Atlanta United has three strikers that Martino can deploy either alone at the top of the formation, or in tandem. Kenwyne Jones is a 32-year-old native of Trinidad and Tobago and veteran of the leagues in England. He’s big ...

5 Observations From Atlanta United’s Preseason

... he wasn’t the team’s first pick in January’s Super Draft, Julian Gressel, picked eighth in the first round, could be a steal in the draft. The midfielder has made things happen in every appearance with two assists in the first three games. Miles Robinson, the first pick, has the size and speed to become at least a solid player, if not the potential to be a great one. Anton Walkes, on loan from Tottenham Hot Spur, formed a good partnership with Robinson against Charleson. Andrew Wheeler Omiunu’s cross to Villalba was the winning goal against Charleston. Atlanta United previews. Here are the stories that will appear this week on __link__, on facebook at Atlanta United News Now, at twitter @Doug Roberson and in the paper to preview Atlanta United’s inaugural season. If you want to subscribe, here is the contact: __link__/subscriptionpanel. Monday on __link__/Tuesday’s paper: The importance of set pieces in soccer. Tuesday on __link__/Wednesday’s paper: A look at the team’s forwards. Wednesday on __link__/Thursday’s paper: A look at the team’s midfielders. Thursday on ...

What To Expect From Atlanta United’s Defenders

... angles and funnel the opponent to a side. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the professional foul. “It’s a resource we use to stop (opponents), as long as it’s not a really aggressive foul,” Pirez said. The responsibilities are more complex for the fullbacks because they are expected to become involved with the offense as often as practical. “On our team, they are very important for the attack,” Martino said. “Without forgetting their other role, which is to defend.”. Right fullback Tyrone Mears is a veteran of leagues in England, as well as posting more than 60 appearances with Seattle in MLS. Right fullback Greg Garza has played in Brazil, Portugal and most recently Mexico, where had more than 80 appearances. “It’s a player that comes from deep,” Mears said. “Usually wingers will switch off and not track the fullbacks. It certainly the way (Martino) ...

10 Things You Need To Know About Atlanta United

... newest professional team. 1. First game is SOLD OUT. Thought there was no interest in a professional soccer team in Atlanta? Wrong. The first game is officially sold out, which means there will be more than 55,000 raucous fans cheering on Atlanta United in their first game. 2. Atlanta United season tickets sales explode. Atlanta United sold more than 30,000 season tickets for their first season. To put that in perspective, the average attendance in the league last year was 21,600. 3. They had a great preseason. Atlanta United went 3-1-0 in their first preseason games. It's impressive considering the team has only been together for about 40 days. 4. The head coach is Tata Martino. Gerardo "Tata" Martino is the head coach. Before coming to Atlanta, he managed the Argentina national team and lead them to the Copa América final twice. He's also coached at Barcelona, Newell's Old Boys and Paraguay in addition to several other clubs. The 54-year-old is from Argentina. 5. You won't see No. 17 on the field because it's you. No. 17 is reserved for ...

Atlanta United Fc Debut Game

... 6 of 11. Atlanta United midfielder Yamil Asad reacts to scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the New York Red Bulls, Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta-Journal Constitution via AP). 7 of 11. Atlanta United midfielder Yamil Asad (11) reacts after scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the New York Red Bulls, Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland). 8 of 11. Atlanta United midfielder Yamil Asad reacts to scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the New York Red Bulls, Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta-Journal Constitution via AP). 9 of 11. Atlanta United FC fans await an MLS soccer game between the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United FCon Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland). 10 of 11. Atlanta United RC fan Barbara Morningstar dances with MC Leighton outside Bobby Dodd Stadium before the first game in franchise history against the ...

Atlanta United's Expansion Magic Spawns Australian Supporters

... existed for just a handful of months, and any thought of an Atlanta team remained decades away. But he still developed a love for the city, one he kept even as he moved to Sydney for work some years later. There, he established supporters’ clubs in the city for both Bournemouth and Espanyol, rounding out what little free time remained with gigs as a singer-songwriter. Any news of MLS proved an occasional curiosity – until, one day, while clicking around the web, he happened across a striking image. That turned out to be the Atlanta United primary kit, right after its release. The black and red stripes reminded him instantly of his English club love, Bournemouth.  From there, a seed grew. “I thought, ‘You know what, I'm not going to sort of be a typical bandwagon person that jumps on after success,” he says. “I thought, ‘I'm not going to wait for this great start to be to be walking the same journey as the fans over in Atlanta. Let’s just walk together and build.’”. Our new @ATLUTD flag makes its first appearance at our home @Cheers Sydney NSW. — ATLUTD Sydney (@ATLUTDSydney) February ...

An Atlanta United Fan Down Under

... Australia (center) poses with another Atlanta United fan, Atlanta resident Alberto Polanco (right), and an unidentified man who joined in for the photograph. (Photo courtesy of Nick Punal). Nick Puñal closed his office door, hung up his Atlanta United flag, turned on a video camera and began to softly sing a self-penned chant about the MLS expansion team. “ We, are Atlanta. United wherever we go. Unite and conquer… ”. Unlike most of the videos posted by supporters who are trying to create new game-day song, Puñal didn’t create his anywhere close to metro Atlanta. He’s not even remotely close to the club footprint established by the TV deal with  Fox Sports South. Puñal, and his office, are more than 9,000 miles and 16 hours away in Sydney, Australia. G’day, indeed. Though Puñal, 44, can’t be counted as a holder of one of the more than 27,000 season-tickets sold for Atlanta United’s inaugural season, he can lay claim to being the team’s most unique and far-flung supporter. “The more I look into the way Atlanta United FC have been doing things so well, such as establishing and nurturing the Academy, engaging with the fans, the attention to detail in every aspect, not to ...

Atlanta United’s Golden Spike A Tribute To City’s Roots

... United FC. We haven’t heard a ton about match day traditions from Atlanta United FC in the lead up to first kick against New York Red Bulls. With a few days left, though, the club is introducing a few wrinkles that supporters can embrace each and every game. One that was announced today and that caught our attention is the Golden Spike. A birth of a movement. A tradition rooted in the ATL. — Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) March 3, 2017. What is it, exactly, you ask? Good question. It’s a nod to Atlanta’s history as a railroad town. In fact, the city’s original name, Terminus - where the supporter group Terminus Legion derives its moniker from - comes from the fact that it was an end point for several railroad hubs in the 1800 s when trains were the main mode of transportation. Here’s what to expect, from the club’s website. 90 minutes before Atlanta United take the field, the players will arrive at the American Family Insurance Fan Village to sign the Golden Spike, followed by ...

What To Expect From Atlanta United’s Midfielders

... for us that they attack, but also get back to defend,” Martino said. Attacking midfielders can drift all over the field to provide numerical advantages. In a preseason win against Chattanooga, Miguel Almiron drifted back to help defend a set piece, tracked down a clearance and dribbled more than 40 yards before passing to Villalba, who scored the first goal in Atlanta United’s history. Almiron, Mc Cann, Julian Gressel and Kevin Kratz can play as the position. “For an attacking midfielder, it’s very important to find the holes between the lines, between the centerbacks and the holding midfielders,” Kratz said. “Move around there, just try to get into open space so that you can turn when you get the ball.”. On defense, they must work to keep the other team on the right side or the left side, “So that everybody knows we can attack them there and try to get the ball back as fast as possible,” Kratz said. Wide ...