Atlanta United kicks off this season’s second “United derby” tonight at 7:30. It looked to be all Atlanta in the beginning of the first meeting, but DC United was able to score three times and parked the bus to secure the win. That being said, there’s plenty of reason to believe the result will favor the five stripes this time around.
The Basics
- When: Wednesday, June 21st – 7:30 -pm
- Where: RFK Stadium – Washington D.C.
- Watch: Fox Sports South
Atlanta United (6-6-3)
Last week was a good week for Atlanta United, as the team picked up two wins in four days, advancing in the US Open Cup and also on the table. The three DPs continued their fantastic form over the week, tallying all three goals in the team’s 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. The win was the third straight home win in front of a sixth straight sellout crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Throughout the week we saw a few new faces on the pitch and fans were able to get an idea of the depth of the new expansion side. Players such as Mikey Ambrose, Chris McCann, and Kevin Kratz all saw a substantial amount of playing time, and each made impressive impressions on Tata Martino and the fans.
The highlight of the week was the return of Atlanta’s beloved striker, Josef Martinez. #7 proved to not skip a beat after his injury, scoring goals against both the Charleston Battery and Columbus Crew.
D.C. United (4-8-3)
D.C. has had a poor run of form as of late. The last time this side played well was the last time they played Atlanta, which was all the way back at the end of April. The poor mid-season stretch has the Black and Red sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference with just 15 points.
The headline of DC’s struggles is their scoring issue. In their last seven matches, DC United have only been able to score one time, with zero goals in their last three matches – and to make it seem worse, their lone goal was from a penalty kick. Atlanta United should be a clear favorite given these circumstances, as the Five Stripes still lead the MLS in the scoring category with 31 goals.
D.C. took all three against Atlanta in Bobby Dodd, so hopefully Atlanta will be able to avenge that loss today. Atlanta is currently sitting at 7th on the table with 21 points and a game to give, so hopefully the recent escalation of momentum will carry the Five Stripes to all three points tonight.