Atlanta United returns home on Saturday night when it welcomes Toronto FC to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After a successful two-match road trip where the 5-Stripes earned four points, the team is looking to build on that momentum with a victory at home this weekend. Toronto has been a tricky opponent for Atlanta in the past, as the visitors own the all-time edge 6-4-6 (W-L- T) coming into the weekend. Atlanta’s unbeaten run in the last three matches has lifted the team into the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Toronto sits just one spot and three points ahead of the 5-Stripes, giving a little more meaning to Saturday’s match. Earlier this year, Toronto secured a 2-0 victory at home against Atlanta. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by Home Depot against Toronto FC.
Continue to build on solid defense and limit shots on target
Atlanta United’s defense has been solid all season long. Despite having some moving parts in the backline due to injury and international call-ups, Atlanta is among the league leaders in several defensive categories. The team has only faced 92 shots on target, which is the eighth fewest in the league. The team has also limited opponents to just 17 clear-cut chances this season, which is the fourth fewest in the league coming into this weekend. Those numbers are more impressive knowing that Homegrowns Noah Cobb (18 years old) and Caleb Wiley (19) have played over 1,000 minutes already this season. If Atlanta can continue to be solid along the backline and limit Toronto’s clear-cut scoring chances, it should find itself in a good position to earn points on Saturday.
Match Toronto’s intensity and quality in the final third
Toronto started the season on a good run of form under new head coach John Herdman. It had 10 points from itsfirst five matches. Since then, the form has dipped as it sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 24 points from 20 matches. They still feature two of the more dynamic players in the league in Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. In particular, Bernardeschi has been influential for Toronto this season. He leads the team in nearly every offensive category this season including goals (7), assists (5), shots on target (27) and key passes (42). Usually cutting in from the right side onto his dangerous left foot, Bernardeschi can make something happen out of very little. Insigne has four goals and four assists in limited time this season. If Atlanta wants to secure a victory at home, it will need to shut down the Italian duo first and foremost.
Score early and get the supporters behind you
While the 5-Stripes have scored 26 goals this season, only one of those came in the first 15 minutes. If you expand that to the first 30 minutes, the team has only managed three goals so far this season. Atlanta needs to come out on Saturday and put Toronto under pressure from the opening whistle and get the crowd involved early. When the team has been able to score and take a lead into halftime, the 5-Stripes are a perfect 40-0 in those matches this season. Saturday presents another opportunity to get an early goal and secure three points at home for the first time since the end of March.
Fans can tune in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV Saturday night at 7:30 pm ET when the action kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. To hear the action on radio, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).
