ATLANTA, GEORGIA—The defensive alignment of Atlanta United is set to get a much-needed boost in the next few days. According to reports, United is set to acquire, Tigres UANL centerback Juan Jose Sanchez Purata on loan.
Once the deal is finalized, Purata will be a big help in defense for the team since its star center back, Miles Robinson, is injured after suffering a ruptured Achilles on May 7 against Chicago Fire FC.
Sanchez Purata has been with Tigres’ senior team since 2017. In the 2021-2022 campaign, he made 13 appearances.
Earlier, three of the top players of Atlanta United played superbly to carry the team to a 3-2 win over the visiting C.F. Pachuca on June 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the American Family Insurance Cup.
Major League Soccer veterans Josef Martinez and Dom Dwyer provided two of the winning goals for the team.
Argentine striker Luiz Araújo gave the other goal. Martinez, who is back from injury, scored the match’s first goal.
The second goal for the team came from Araujo. After the visitors tied the count at 2-2, Dwyer then showed his experience by scoring the late and winning goal for the team.
Aside from winning the match, the game was extra-special since injured United players, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender were also part of the game. Guzan made his broadcasting debut in the game. Robinson, for his part, is the guest player during the halftime.
The victory also allowed the team to lift the Amerian Family Insurance Cup trophy. Pachuca is a six-time Liga MX champion and advanced to the final of the recently completed Clausura campaign. The Hidalgo capital club has been crowned champions of CONCACAF five times, winning the CONCACAF Champions League in 2017 and 2010 while also winning its previous iteration, the Champions’ Cup, in 2008, and 2007, and 2002. Pachuca also won the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, the international competition inviting the best teams from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.
