Atlanta United heads back on the road this midweek to Fort Lauderdale to take on Inter Miami CF. The 5-Stripes are looking to reverse their recent form, while Miami sits at the top of the Eastern Conference and looks to continue its good run of form. Atlanta has earned draws in two of its last three road matches coming into this road contest on Wednesday night. They will be going up against the league’s top attack as Miami has already scored 38 goals in 16 matches this season. A victory for Atlanta could be the kind of momentum shift the team has been looking for as they get set to close out a busy month of May. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by the Home Depot against Inter Miami CF.
Dictate the tempo of the match and impose your physicality on Miami’s skill players
In order to defeat a talented Miami side, Atlanta will have to play at a very high level for a full 90 minutes. They can’t afford to have lapses in concentration or lapses in defensive organization against this side that features the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Atlanta’s defense will have to impose their physicality both on the ground and in the air. Atlanta ranks among the league leaders in aerial duel winning percentage at 53.3% (8th in MLS). With the return of Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams, that number should only rise going forward.
If Atlanta can control the tempo in midfield and impose their physicality on Miami in order to disrupt their attack, the 5-Stripes could walk away with a positive result.
Limit Messi, Suarez and the other Miami attackers inside the box
It’s no secret that Inter Miami’s attack centers around Lionel Messi and his strike partner Luis Suarez. The duo has combined for 21 of the team’s 38 goals this season. Messi, the greatest soccer player of this generation, not only has 10 goals but has also racked up 12 assists in just 10 matches played. Both do most of their damage inside the box, where Miami scored 33 of their 38 goals this season. Atlanta’s defense needs one of its best matches of the season, especially inside their own box to limit Miami’s effectiveness. The Herons feature other players that can hurt Atlanta as well, with the likes of Robert Taylor (three goals, three assists) or former 5-Stripe Julian Gressel (five assists) finding the attacking duo with decisive passes. If Atlanta can close down the spaces and cut off the supply to Messi and Suarez, they can stay in the match and get some road points.
Convert set piece opportunities when they arise
After being one of the top teams in terms of scoring goals off set pieces last season (18 goals scored, T-5th in MLS), this season Atlanta has not had the same kind of success on set pieces. Through 14 matches, Atlanta has only scored three goals, all of them from the penalty spot. One of the tools to success on Wednesday night will be converting set piece opportunities, corner kicks or free kicks, when they present themselves against a tough Inter Miami defense. Atlanta needs to use their aerial strength in the attacking end as much as they need to use it defensively. A set piece goal could push Atlanta closer to road points at Miami.
Fans can tune in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm ET when the action kicks off at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. To hear the action on radio, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).
