The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta United’s attendance Saturday was 3rd-best in world
Atlanta United had the world’s third-largest unofficial announced attendance last weekend. The 66,114 for Saturday’s game vs. New England was surpassed only by 73,737 for Sunday’s Manchester United-Liverpool game in Manchester, England, and 81,365 at Signal Iduna Park in Germany for Saturday’s Borussia Monchengladbach-Borussia Dortmund game.
When Atlanta United and Philadelphia last met, it was the eighth game in less than a month for the Five Stripes.
The visitors held on to a 1-1 score for as long as they could until the Union broke through with two goals in the final minutes to secure a 3-1 win at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.
This time, when the teams meet in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Philadelphia may have the tired legs. Not only did the Union play a day later than Atlanta United, it needed 30 extra minutes to win its game, 4-3 over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday. Atlanta United defeated New England 1-0 on Saturday.
“I think going into extra time is always tough on players, especially when you’ve put all that effort into 90 minutes knowing that you’ve got quite a bit left,” Atlanta United’s Emerson Hyndman said. “I was watching the game, and it looked like there were some tired legs out there, a little bit.
“We look quite fresh and the end of the game, which was nice to see. Obviously the extra day helps as well. We’re confident in our energy levels, and having watched the game I think it might be a big advantage.”
Centerback Flo Pogba said he’s not sure that having more time between games is going to be that big of an advantage.
“Anything can happen in one game,” he said. “The advantage that I do think we have is playing at home in front of our fans. That’s going to be important for us. We know it’s going to be a great game. Philadelphia’s a difficult opponent. They beat us at their house this season. The fans will be important.”
Philadelphia has its own injuries. Striker Kacper Przybylko, who scored the winning goal in the previous meeting Aug. 31, didn’t play against Red Bulls because of a foot injury sustained near the end of the regular season. Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who scored in the 30th minute Sunday, left the game in the 112th minute with an undisclosed injury.
“Obviously Bedoya, big player for them, almost a leader for their team,” Hyndman said. “It will probably be a big miss if he doesn’t play in the game. That’s something that can happen this late in the season. It’s never nice to see, but at the same time we’ve got to try to take advantage of what they’re lacking at the time, and that’s what we’re looking at.”
Atlanta United’s season against
Philly: Atlanta United and Philadelphia met twice during the regular season, a 1-1 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 17 and the 3-1 Philadelphia win at Talen Energy Stadium on Aug. 31.
In the first game, Ezequiel Barco’s goal in the 70th minute offset one by Philadelphia’s Brenden Aaronson in the 47th.
In the second game, Josef Martinez struck first before the Union’s Brenden Aaronson scored to tie the game. Then Przybylko struck in the 86th minute and Sergio Santos Gomes followed with another goal in the 88th.