Atlanta United were too good. Against a team that has historically bested them with a deadly full-field press, Atlanta committed to building out from the back rather than playing their normal, more counter-attacking game. And for the first time, New York chose not to press, attempting to pre-empt Atlanta’s counter-attacking threat. In a battle of tactical rearrangements, the Five Stripes won 3-0.
It was bold from Tata Martino, to focus his attention on keeping the ball and dictating the game through midfield. It could easily have backfired. Atlanta have evolved into more and more of a counter-attacking side, one that attempts to draw opponents out and then launch Miguel Almiron into space.