A Gonzalez Pirez absence could also mean a shift back to a four-man defense, which may give Parkhurst the help he needs to deal with Kamara. Michael Parkhurst is a seasoned veteran, but Kamara's physicality could cause problems for his former Columbus Crew teammate.
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The longtime Portland Timber has a highlight reel full of big plays against the Whitecaps, and he'll be a key factor in Atlanta's game plan, with his ability to find the gaps in Vancouver's midfield.įor the Whitecaps, getting the ball to Kamara will be key, especially if Gonzalez Pirez can't play. This is a match that has Darlington Nagbe's name written all over it. The Dynamo did a good job of controlling possession last week against Vancouver - with 67 percent - but Marinovic's saves kept the Dynamo from capitalizing fully. "It's one of the most important qualities they have."Īs important as set pieces will be, Atlanta must control possession and limit Vancouver's chances on the counter. "It's no longer just Waston, like last year - now there's Kamara, so you have to be very careful," Martino told reporters. To make matters worse for Atlanta, the Whitecaps have more dangerous weapons in the set-piece department than last year. That could be an issue again, especially if Leandro Gonzalez Pirez can't recover from a hip injury. One theme in the lead-up to this meeting is set piece defending - something Atlanta struggled with mightily in last year's matchup. Against a Whitecaps side that is likely to set up with a five-man midfield behind striker Kei Kamara, Martino may not have much choice but to go with the 3-5-2 again. The change allows Atlanta to put an extra body in the midfield, which helps offset the lack of a top-level defensive midfielder - which Atlanta is currently scouring the market for. United and it looked much better than the 4-2-3-1 used in the loss to Houston. Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic came up with several big saves to secure the victory, and there's a good chance he will be busy once again on Saturday.Ītlanta coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino deployed a 3-5-2 system against D.C. If Atlanta can take something away from Vancouver's trip to Houston, it's that the Dynamo succeeded in dominating possession - and creating many more chances - only to be undone by poor finishing and bad defending on the counter. The Whitecaps are coming off an impressive win in Houston against a Dynamo side that lost at home just once in 2017, and had thrashed Atlanta just a week earlier. Mercedes-Benz Stadium provides an atmosphere that helps give Atlanta's high-flying attack another gear, and it can sometimes overwhelm opponents. Vancouver WhitecapsĪtlanta United is one of the toughest teams in MLS to deal with on its home field. Here is a closer look at the key talking points for MLS Week 3: He'll be heading to Yankee Stadium, where New York City FC will be looking to go 3-0 by beating an Orlando City squad still searching for its first win of the season. This weekend will also see Sacha Kljestan return to the New York area for the first time since being traded away by the Red Bulls. United has fans in Atlanta calm again after a worrisome season-opening loss to Houston, but the Whitecaps represent the toughest challenge of the season so far. The most exciting game of the weekend should take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where a packed house will see Atlanta United take on the unbeaten Vancouver Whitecaps.