ATLANTA, GEORGIA—Atlanta United needs to follow three essential strategies to get back-to-back wins on the road.
Someone should step up!
Since some of the key players of United are nursing injuries, the players on the bench need to step up in order for the team to win and beat Charlotte FC on the road on Sunday.
One player that could step up for the team is defensive midfielder Argentine Franco Ibarra.
Ibarra said he is ready to go 90 minutes if head coach Gonzalo Pineda wants in their road game on Sunday.
“We’re all a team,” Ibarra said Wednesday. “So we all work together as a team. Everyone’s on the same page, trying to do the best they can to help the group.
So I think they’re capable of doing the job with whichever player the coach decides to play,” Ibarra added.
Ibarra is set to take the role vacated by central midfielder Osvaldo “Ozzie” Alonso, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Atlanta United’s 1-0 win over D.C. United on Saturday.
Sources said the absence of Alonso is a massive challenge for the team since they already lost a crucial central midfielder last season in Emerson Hyndman; Hyndman is expected to return to action at some point this season and has resumed training with the team.
Alonzo, 36, had played every minute for Atlanta outside of one game, where he was withheld until his injury Saturday.
Contain Swiderski and limit Bender’s key passes
Another way for United to win on the road is to stop Karol Swiderski from scoring.
The Polish international has scored four goals in five matches.
United must find ways to stop Swiderski from finding his groove in their match.
The team must also limit Ben Bender, the top pick in this past MLS SuperDraft, from making key passes.
Bender leads the team with eight key passes.
Transition is key to winning
United must also take advantage of transition moments when they arrive.
They lead MLS in total fast breaks, according to Opta, and will look to be a little more clinical in those final moments of the break.
Brooks Lennon should find ways to score during transition plays.
Lennon ranks seventh in MLS with 14 created chances.
