Atlanta United dominate New York City FC.
Atlanta United bounced back and dominated the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against New York City FC in Yankee Stadium. It was a chippy affair with 22 fouls in the first half. Atlanta was able to grab a 1-0 win that sets them up nicely for the second leg back in Atlanta.
Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino spoke to the intensity of his club, “That’s the way you have to play every game, regular season or the playoffs, it doesn’t matter. That’s the attitude. In the first half, I think we played some really good football.”
Scoring Details
New York City FC 0 – Atlanta United 1 – Eric Remedi
Julian Gressel delivered a dangerous corner kick that found Josef Martinez open at the penalty spot. Martinez drove a powerful volley that forced NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson into a save that he could not pull in.
Atlanta mid-fielder Eric Remedi collected the loose ball and poked the ball over the line.
A moment to remember.@_georgebello's first @MLS goal. What. A. Strike. https://t.co/IYcowNdMCJ
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) October 6, 2018
Squad Details
Miguel Almirón returned to the stating line-up after being out for the last month of the season. Head coach Tata Martino decided to start Almirón and then sit him at the half. The strategy worked as Atlanta collected the early goal and was able to hold on in the second half.
Line-ups
Atlanta United
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (3): Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowicz
- Midfielders (5): Greg Garza, Eric Remedi, Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel, Franco Escobar
- Forwards (2): Josef Martinez, Miguel Almirón (Tito Villalba – 45′ (Ezequiel Barco – 85′))
Unused Substitutes
- Alec Kann, George Bello, Miles Robinson, Kevin Kratz, Romario Williams
New York City FC
- GK:Sean Johnson
- Defenders (4):Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alexander Callens, Ben Sweat (Jo Inge Berget 63′)
- Midfielders (2):Alexander Ring, Yangel Herrera
- Midfielders (3):Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (Jesús Medina 77′), Maximiliano Moralez, Ronald Matarrita
- Forward (1): David Villa
Unused Substitutes
- Brad Stuver, Sebastien Ibeagha, Eloi Amagat, Ebenezer Ofori, Valentín Castellanos
Up Next
Atlanta United returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 5:00 p.m. when the return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second leg of the Eastern Confernce Semi-finals against New York City FC.
