Motivated Atlanta next test for Crew
When Major League Soccer announced the format for its MLS is Back tournament, Crew coach Caleb Porter said he would prioritize the first three games before thinking about winning the tournament, because only the group-stage games count in the regular-season standings.
The Crew checked off FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls on its todo list, winning by a combined 6-0. The final opponent to cross off is Atlanta United, a team that has yet to score or earn a point in two games but has the talent to present a challenge to any opponent.
Because Atlanta will be fighting for its tournament life, needing a win and help to advance to the knockout stage, tonight’s match should include a level of intensity that will test the Crew’s resolve against top opponents.
“(Atlanta is) still a very good team. They have a good coach (Frank de Boer),” Porter said Sunday. “(Ezequiel) Barco and Pity Martinez are still two of the best, most dangerous players in the league. They’re a difficult team to play against.”
The Crew already has advanced to the knockout stage and has a more than 99% chance of winning Group E, according to Fivethirtyeight projections.
A Crew tie or win would seal the team’s first-place finish and eliminate Atlanta from advancement.
If the Crew loses, it will still finish first in the group as long as the combined goal differential in the loss and a win by the Red Bulls over Cincinnati on Wednesday is less than seven goals.
Atlanta’s winless record in the tournament doesn’t tell the full story. De Boer is still trying to figure out how to maximize his team’s offense without striker Josef Martinez, who suffered a torn knee ligament in the season opener against Nashville before the league suspended play due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But Atlanta controlled much of its match against the Red Bulls with almost 70% possession. Against FC Cincinnati, Atlanta was down a man after a red card. The final score in both was 1-0.
“By no means are we looking past (Atlanta),” Crew defender Hector Jimenez said after the match against the Red Bulls on Thursday. “We want to take nine points from these first three games.”
Porter said a few of his players may sit out tonight’s match, either due to short-term injuries or in an attempt to manage a player’s minutes. Jimenez and captain Jonathan Mensah have played the entire 90 minutes in two straight games, and forward Gyasi Zardes, who has three goals this tournament, has played more than 170 minutes in those games.
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe and goalkeeper Eloy Room each suffered injuries in the second half against New York. Porter said both are still being evaluated, as is left back Milton Valenzuela, who has yet to play in the tournament but was available off the bench Thursday.
“We’re confident we’ll put a group out that will give us a chance to win the game,” Porter said.
With a win, the Crew would improve to 4-0-1 overall and have the advantage of beginning the post-tournament portion of the season atop the Eastern Conference.
“We need to continue to improve and get better, so our process and our mindset is that even though we have some confidence right now, we can still be better,” Porter said. “We’re not going to be complacent, and we’re not going to take this team lightly.” jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers