The 5-Stripes are coming off a high after this weekend’s win. After five long months without soccer in Atlanta, the team got a statement win over Nashville SC. Atlanta United is back in action Wednesday, facing Inter Miami CF for the very first time.
Ahead of this matchup, we broke down the Tools to the Match, presented by The Home Depot:
Maintaining Momentum
Pity Martinez showed out in Saturday’s match, in which his stellar brace earned both his first multiple goal match since joining MLS as well as his first goals of the 2020 season. The team will be looking to build off of the energy generated by Saturday’s win as they travel to face Inter Miami CF on Wednesday.
Brad Guzan and the team have been working hard since returning from the MLS is Back tournament in Orlando to show the fitness level and attacking presence the 17s are used to seeing.
“We want to be a team that is in your face, high-pressing, high-tempo and an exciting team to watch for our fans. With that comes hard work. You don’t get to turn up on a matchday and think that you are going to do it,” Guzan stated in his post-match interview. “You have to put the work in training day in and day out to make sure we are as fit as possible, to make sure that if somebody goes down, the next guy steps up and he carries on, the level doesn’t drop. Tonight, we showed that.”
Conquering a New Environment
Wednesday’s match represents the first ever competition between Atlanta United and Inter Miami CF, an expansion MLS club who only began play this season. While Miami’s season did not get off to the start that they hoped for, the club is coming off its first-ever victory having defeating Orlando City SC 3-2 at home on Saturday. It was the first match at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
While Inter Miami CF will be hoping to carry some of that momentum into Wednesday’s match, the 5-Stripes are no strangers to conquering expansion clubs in hostile environments. Atlanta United spoiled Nashville SC’s home opener back in March and looks to conquer Miami in similar fashion.
Continue to Score
It’s no secret that when the 5-Stripes score, the team is electric. No one knows that better than Pity Martinez, who got the brace and secured the win Saturday.
“They were two nice goals. I’ll take away my own performance and the team’s total performance. The attitude of the team,” Martinez said in his post-match interview. “That you saw what we worked on during the week and that’s the most important, to show what we’ve been training and keep improving.”
Atlanta United has scored at least twice in each of its MLS wins this season. So, energizing the attack and getting past Miami’s defense will be crucial during Wednesday’s matchup.
Watch Atlanta United’s first match in history versus Inter Miami CF, August 26th at 8pm ET on Fox Sports South.
