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MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Win 3-1 against New England Revolution

October 6, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


ATLANTA - Atlanta United defeated New England Revolution 3-1 Sunday afternoon in front of 44,617 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the regular season finale. Darlington Nagbe, Josef Martinez and Julian Gressel each scored to solidify Atlanta's spot as the No. 2 seed in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, where it will once again play New England Revolution in Round 1 on Oct. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, Atlanta finished with 58 points, the most by a defending MLS Cup Champion in the post-shootout era.

New England nearly found the opening goal less than two minutes into the match when Cristian Penilla sprinted in on goal alone, but Brad Guzan rushed off his line to deny the forward's initial attempt and Penilla sent the ball sailing to the left of the post on the rebound.

Atlanta quickly responded, scoring a minute later through Nagbe. Martinez received a pass on the edge of the 18-yard box and passed to Gressel on the right wing. The German sent a low cross towards the center of the box where Nagbe redirected the ball into the bottom left corner for his second tally of the season.

The Revolution, however, equalized in the eighth minute. After a long clearance from the New England defense, the ball fell for Penilla just past midfield. He was one-on-one with Guzan and finished with a shot to the bottom left corner.

Atlanta regained the lead just four minutes into the second half. Gressel received a pass from Ezequiel Barco on the right side of the field in Atlanta's defensive third and sent a pin-point through ball through the New England defense, springing Martinez in on goal. The Venezuelan dribbled into the box before drilling his shot into the upper left corner. It was Martinez's 27th goal of the season.

Gressel extended Atlanta's lead in the 57th minute from a corner kick. Barco delivered the corner into the center of the box where Martinez flicked it back to Gressel who was positioned just outside of the penalty area on the right side. Unmarked, Gressel struck the ball on the half volley, sending his shot off the left post and into the net for his sixth goal of the year.

In the 79th minute, Michael Parkhurst checked in for Gressel in his final regular season appearance of his career, No. 301.

Atlanta United (18-12-4, 58 points) will face New England Revolution Oct. 19 in Round 1 of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.

MATCH INFO

Atlanta United 3, New England Revolution 1

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta, Georgia

STATS

Shots: 19-18 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 9-4 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 13-5 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 10-10

Clearances: 24-14 New England

Offside: 4-3 New England

Possession: 51-49 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 82-80 New England

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL- Darlington Nagbe (Julian Gressel, Josef Martinez) 3' [HIGHLIGHT]

NER - Cristian Penilla 8' [HIGHLIGHT]

ATL - Josef Martinez (Julian Gressel) 49' [HIGHLIGHT]

ATL - Julian Gressel (Ezequiel Barco, Josef Martinez) 57' [HIGHLIGHT]

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

NER - Luis Caicedo (yellow) 20'

NER - Wilfried Zahibo (yellow) 83'

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan; Julian Gressel (Michael Parkhurst - 79'), Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Miles Robinson, Franco Escobar; Justin Meram (Florentin Pogba - 64'), Emerson Hyndman, Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe; Ezequiel Barco (-Tito Villalba- - 64'), Josef Martinez.

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Eric Remedi, Gonzalo Martinez, Mo Adams.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION STARTING LINEUP

Matt Turner; Andrew Farrell, Jalil Anibaba (Juan Agudelo - 68'), Antonio Mlinar Delamea, Brandon Bye; Luis Caicedo (Diego Fagundez - 59'), Cristian Penilla, Carles Gil ©, Wilfried Zahibo; Teal Bunbury (Juan Fernando Caicedo - 81'), Gustavo Bou.

Substitutes not used: Michael Mancienne, DeJuan Jones, Brad Knighton, Scott Caldwell.

ATTENDANCE

44,617

OFFICIALS

Ismail Elfath (referee), Corey Parker (assistant), Chris Wattam (assistant), Mark Allatin (fourth), Sorin Stoica (VAR), Peter Manikowski (Assistant VAR).

TEAM NOTES

Atlanta's 58 points during the regular season were the most by a defending champion in the post-shootout era (year 2000 and later)

Josef Martinez finished with 27 goals this season and has netted 78 regular season goals in his MLS career

Julian Gressel scored his sixth goal of the year and recorded his 11th and 12th assists. He has recorded 12 or more assists in back-to-back seasons and has 35 in his career.

Darlington Nagbe scored his second goal with Atlanta United.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 6, 2019


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