The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NYCFC ready to test United’s home-field advantage today
Atlanta United’s dominance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium should be put to the test in today’s MLS game against unbeaten NYCFC.
From its first game in the $1.5 billion stadium, Atlanta United has run most of its opponents out of the building.
Powered by record-breaking crowds and taking advantage of every fiber of the expansive artificial-turf pitch, the Five Stripes have scored 38 goals in 11 regular-season matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They’ve scored more goals at home during that stretch than any other team in MLS. Toronto is second with 29 in its past 11 at BMO Field.
With the goals have come wins. Atlanta United is 3-0-0 at home this season and 8-1-2 since defeating Dallas 3-0 on Sept. 10 in its first game at the stadium.
“It’s our field. It’s our home,” Atlanta United’s Julian Gressel said. “The support is there. We love playing on that surface, and the dimensions fit us perfectly. As a top team, you have to win your
games at home and see what you can get on the road.”
Its one loss came against Minnesota United when Atlanta United was down several players, including having to play its fourth-string goalkeeper in the game’s final minutes when the result was determined with two goals by the Loons for a 3-2 win.
NYCFC isn’t Minnesota United.
The Cityzens, coached by Patrick Vieira and led by striker David Villa, are one of the top teams in MLS the past two seasons.
NYCFC features fast and technically gifted players, tactically astute plans and are tenacious on offense and defense with a high press. They like to play out of the back, create numerical advantages on one side of the pitch, which forces the defense to reach, and then switch the ball to the other side to try to take advantage of one-onone situations.
“They are flying this year,” Atlanta United’s Chris McCann said. “It’s going to be a really tough game.”
Perhaps because the same things can be said about Atlanta United, the teams have had similar results this season. NYCFC and Atlanta United rank Nos. 1-2 in MLS in goals (14 and 13) and 1-2 in goal difference (plus-10 and plus-7).
Atlanta United may need every ingredient that has made it so tough at home to win today.
Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino and the players said they are good at home because of the support they receive from the fans.
As it did last year in setting an MLS record with an average attendance of 48,200, Atlanta United again leads the league in attendance this season, with an average of 54,082, which is almost 15,000 more than the next highest average in Seattle.
“This is a league where teams usually have a strong home-field advantage for different circumstances,” Martino said. “In our case, a big part is due to the people. The support helps us and allows us to have a great home-field advantage.”