Atlanta United can extend their MLS unbeaten run to seven matches when they welcome New York City FC to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday.
The Five Stripes are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, winning their previous home fixture 3-1 over DC United, while the Boys in Blue could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to the Columbus Crew this past weekend, extending their winless run to 10 matches in all competitions.
Match preview
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Some minor tweaks made by Gonzalo Pineda recently have made a massive difference for his Atlanta side, who have not lost a domestic encounter since a 3-1 defeat at home to Charlotte FC in the middle of May.
They have claimed seven out of a possible nine points at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since that defeat, as this team looked a lot more dynamic and creative against DC when Derrick Etienne shifted off to the right wing, with Caleb Wiley operating on the left.
This team have scored three or more goals in three consecutive home fixtures and are currently the second-highest-scoring team in MLS with 35 goals, one fewer than the Columbus Crew.
Sixteen of their 22 goals scored at home in the 2023 regular season have occurred in the second half, with the Five Stripes losing just one domestic fixture in Atlanta this year.
So far this season, the Five Stripes have squandered eight points when leading in the second half, while claiming five themselves when trailing in the final 45 minutes of play.
It has been over three years since they last defeated New York City in a home game, claiming a 2-1 triumph against them in 2019.
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In the Bronx, the Boys in Blue have been singing the blues a lot lately, with this club on the verge of matching their longest winless run in a single MLS campaign should they fail to triumph on Wednesday, currently without a victory in nine successive domestic affairs.
Nick Cushing has seen his side behind more often than not throughout the campaign, conceding the opening goal 10 times, though they have shown some resilience, coming back to earn a point in four of those instances, including last weekend at home to the Crew.
When Taty Castellanos was loaned out to Girona in 2022, the club knew that replacing his quality would not be easy, and his replacements have been indecisive in the attacking third throughout the year, with the Pigeons one of only five teams in the Eastern Conference who have notched fewer than 20 goals this season (18).
NYCFC have scored multiple goals in only four of their domestic affairs this year, none of which were away from home, though they did collect their first clean sheet of 2023 on the road the last time out in the high altitude versus Real Salt Lake (0-0).
Having gone winless in nine straight domestic road contests, it is their longest run without an away victory in a single regular season campaign.
Three of their four victories in 2023 have come against Eastern Conference clubs, though they have only won two regular season road fixtures versus their own conference since Cushing took charge.
Team News
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Santiago Sosa missed the last Five Stripes encounter because of a sore ankle, Erik Lopez was out for that same reason, Osvaldo Alonso played the final few minutes despite previously sustaining an ACL injury, replacing Franco Ibarra in their victory over DC, while Giorgos Giakoumakis will be suspended for this upcoming game due to yellow card accumulation.
Giakoumakis, however, is still on international duty with the Greek national team, Miles Robinson will join the Americans at the CONCACAF Gold Cup this week, Ajani Fortune is representing Trinidad and Tobago in that competition, Derrick Etienne is with Haiti, Machop Chol was called up to play for South Sudan, Thiago Almada will be playing for Argentina and Luis Abram has been named to the Peruvian side.
Giakoumakis, Andrew Gutman and Tyler Wolff found the back of the net in their previous encounter as Brad Guzan picked up his first victory between the sticks since April.
Thiago Martins was out of the previous match for New York as he is still recovering from knee surgery, Maxime Chanot is on international duty with Luxembourg but would not have been able to play regardless as he is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while James Sands was named to the US squad who open up their Gold Cup campaign this weekend.
Gabriel Segal had the equalising goal for the Pigeons against Columbus last week, his second of the domestic campaign, while it was Gabriel Pereira who earned them a point in their previous encounter with Atlanta earlier this year, in a match which ended 1-1.
Talles Magno is without a goal since April, notching three domestically this season, while their joint top-goalscorer Santiago Rodriguez has not found the back of the net since scoring in a 3-2 defeat versus Charlotte FC in early May.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Purata, Cobb, Gutman; Ibarra; Sosa, Alonso, Rossetto, Wiley; Berry
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Haak, Alfaro, Turnbull; Ilenic, Morales, Parks, Cufre; Rodriguez; Magno, Segal
We say: Atlanta United 2-0 New York City FC
Morale is at an all-time low in New York City right now, and though there are some talented playmakers on that team, no one has stepped up and shown they can bury a clear-cut scoring opportunity.
Atlanta may be a little susceptible defensively, but they have had no trouble finding the back of the net with 11 players notching at least one MLS goal in 2023, and taking on a team as fragile as NYCFC this week, we expect them to pounce on the opportunities presented to them.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
