Atlanta - Postmatch

Not to pick nits, but you won’t see many atmospheres like that in any “European game”.

Outside of a few places and derbies, ATL just does it up right. Good balance of modernity (contrived) and genuine enthusiasm.

They are just a really good organization. Pieces of shit.


I went to an Atlanta match last year at Bobby Dodd Stadium. My mind was completely blown at how good the atmosphere was.
 
YES is showing a replay of the game right now (2nd half starting as of 9pm).

Two things I noticed on Nagbe's disallowed goal. Berget immediately noticed what happened and was pointing to the sideline official for offsides. Martinez, standing cheek-to-jowl with Johnson, watched the ball go into the net and just calmly walked away. No celebration. He seemed to realize that he had really fucked up.
 
Interesting little tidbit from American Soccer Analysis that Ring's goal had the lowest shot probability of any other goal this week.

https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2018/4/18/lowered-expectations-week-7


For our final sets of GIFs let’s give a shout out to this week’s lowest shot probability that actually culminated in a goal being scored...

Alexander Ring, New York City, 72nd minute, 0.039 expected goals
Assisted by: David Villa
Number of passes in sequence: 4


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RingXG.gif

I’m not a european soccer watcher. I’ve seen a fair amount of soccer games but I can’t say I saw a lot of David Villa at either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. But this moment seems like one of those typical magic Villa moments.

The goal of course was scored by Alexander Ringand I do not wish to take anything away from him. But the whole thing is Villa magic because he is dispossessed eleventy billion times and yet Atlanta defense is unable to come away with the ball. That’s not to discredit Michael Parkhurst or Darlington Nagbe who each take turns being inside Villa’s back pocket.


The pass back to Ring from Villa even positions the Finnish international to receive it, and then set up to take it with his preferred right foot. The shot itself, a high and hard curler into the near-post is astounding, but it is made all the more special by the series of events that led up to the shot. The whole thing feels like destiny and should set up a fantastic replay at Yankee stadium on June 9th.