Atlanta United's dominant 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids this weekend was a team performance from front to back, but three of Atlanta United players have been singled out for their performances in the victory. Miguel Almirón and Julian Gressel have each earned the honors of being named in the MLS Team of the Week, while Leandro González Pirez was named to the bench.
Gressel was the facilitator on the day, laying the opening goal on a platter for Miggy to finish from close range. His pinpoint passing wason display just minutes later, with another curling, low cross finding Tito Villalba for another close-range tap-in to seal the 3-0 victory. He completed 78% of his passes and added 7 ball recoveries on the defensive side in an all-action performance to seal the victory.
If Gressel was the creator, Almirón was the finisher. Miggy put away Gressel's first cross for the opener, then got the all-important insurance goal to make it 2-0 just eight minutes later. It was a combination with Josef Martinez for the second, with the Venezuelan taking on a defender and laying it off to Almirón to slot home past Howard to all but put the match out of reach just 20 minutes in. He needed just three total shots to bag his brace, and tallied an assist for finding Gressel in space for Villalba to finish the 3-0 goal.
While the attackers were working their magic, Leandro González Pirez was cleaning things up on the other end. He led the team with three tackles –– at a 100% success rate –– and a clearance, while proving to be calm and effective on the ball with an 83% passing rate.
Here is the full MLS Team of the Week* for the season.
Note: The MLS Team of the Week is voted on by a panel of league writers
