It’s a new season. The turf is fresh. The team is hungry. Atlanta United is back in action to open the 2022 season at home against Sporting Kansas City. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is going to be packed to the rafters as the first full-venue match of the season commences. The team around Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda is looking to carry over momentum gained in the second half of last season into this upcoming campaign. The 5-Stripes are coming off a solid preseason, including a 4-0 win last week in preparation for Sunday’s season opener. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by The Home Depot against Sporting KC.
Play Fast, Attacking, Atlanta United Soccer
One of the points of emphasis for Coach Pineda this preseason has been to get the team to play fast, attacking, vertical soccer. Those quick transitions are when players like Luiz Araujo and Josef Martinez thrive. Going back to last season, Atlanta United led the league in total fast breaks (23) after the coaching change was made in July. Especially Araujo, who at times can be a one-man fast break, will look to put his stamp on the team and the league after coming over midway through 2021.
One of the other areas of improvement for the team will be to create more high-quality chances in 2022. While Atlanta United ranked tied for 12th in total chances created last season (355), the team only created 45 big chances (high-quality scoring chances according to Opta analytics) which was good for 19th in MLS. Pineda and his coaching staff have been working diligently with the team all preseason to become more fluid in attack, get more people arriving in the box and create higher-quality chances.
Keep eyes all time on Salloi and Russell
Sporting KC features one of the top attacking wingers combinations in all of MLS. Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell combined for 31 goals and 16 assists. Salloi had a breakout season with 16 goals and eight assists, both career-highs. In the previous four seasons, he combined for 15 goals. Russell finished last year with a career-high 15 goals and eight assists, marking his third season with eight or more assists for Sporting KC. The duo is given a lot of freedom from head coach Peter Vermes to create up top and it will be important for Atlanta United’s backline to keep track of them at all times.
Feed off the Crowd Energy
For the first time in club history, Atlanta United will open the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It marks only the second home opener in team history with the other being the team’s inaugural match back in 2017 against the New York Red Bulls. Home field advantage has been a big factor in Atlanta United’s success throughout the years. Against Western Conference teams, Atlanta holds a 15-3-2 (W-L-T) record all-time in regular season play. The team is also riding a seven-match unbeaten streak at home from the end of last season into Sunday’s opener. All three levels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be open on Sunday to kickoff the 2022 MLS season.
Fans can tune in nationally at 3:00 p.m. ET when the action kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Here's how to watch, listen and live stream Sunday's match.
