Atlanta United set a MLS attendance record in their home season opener.
Here is a closer look at some of the numbers from Sunday’s match between Atlanta United and D.C. United.
1
Andrew Carleton saw one minute of action in the match with one touch of the ball. There was plenty of discussion amongst supporters about the lack of playing time he received in the opening weekend when Atlanta was down by four goals at half. With the injuries to Ezequiel Barco and Brandon Vazquez, this raised hopes that Carleton might see more action. It remains to be seen how much time Atlanta coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino is open to giving the 17-year-old this season. This comes after a preseason that he raised his stock. It is more likely that he will receive the bulk of his playing time in the new Atlanta United 2 squad in the USL.
Here is Carleton’s one minute of action.
3-5-2
Tata Martino made a tactical formation change. This change was something that the coach had been hinting at all preseason. He often made in game changes to a three-man back line but had yet to start a match with a three-man back line, until this weekend. This shift may have accounted for the 3-1 result, after all there was an awful lot written and talked about how the Atlanta midfield looked vulnerable in Houston last week. While this is significant, it is hard to point to just this as the substantial change. The start of team captain Michael Parkhurst and the move of Jeff Larentowicz back to midfield certainly helped create a more cohesive defensive unit.
7
Attacking midfielder Miguel Almirón had the type of game that turns heads. He took seven shots, scored once and had an assist. This does not even do justice to the havoc he created for the D.C. United defense. He was active and all over the pitch. He had three shots blocked and could have easily ended the night with a hat trick.
72,035
Atlanta United set the latest Major League Soccer attendance record for a single-match with 72,035 fans. This also placed the club as the fourth highest attendance in the world for this weekend. The German Bundesliga powerhouses of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich were number one and two with 81,360 and 75,000 tickets each. The other match with more in attendance was the English Premiere League rivalry match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Old Trafford, with 74,855 in attendance. Atlanta United now hold each of the three biggest single-match crowds in MLS history.
Of course, it is not just a lot of people, but it is a lot of very loud people.
?️ IT'S LOUD IN ATLANTA.
?: @AdrianSGK1 #ATLUTD pic.twitter.com/PQ3fflYlXc
— COPA90 US (@COPA90US) March 11, 2018
Atlanta United FC
