The first goal of the match was scored in the second minute by Atlanta on a beautiful shot from Josef Martinez. That was just the start for Martinez though s he would finish the first half with a Hat Trick. In total, Atlanta notched 4 goals in the first half, to make this one a near insurmountable climb for the revolution in the first 45.
“I think we’re doing things well. Obviously, today’s game got a little complicated with them going down two players but I think we’re playing really well at home. We’re making it hard for teams to play here and we need to continue on this path and we’re going to do important things.” Said Martinez of the teams performance post match.
To New England’s case, they were at a disadvantaged for most of the game with two of their players, midfielder Xavier Kouassi (16’)and defender Antonio Delamea Mlinar (38’), picking up red cars in the first half of the game. This would force them to play with only 9 players from the 38th minute on. Thie first red card given was a play that was actually reviewed.
New England Head Coach Jay Heaps gave his thoughts on the video replay that eneded in the red card being displayed, “I don’t think anyone’s seen anything like it, because [Video Review] just came into play,” “a reach” based on the replay. “It is what it is. We’re in a new age, a new era.”
Despite the red cards, Heaps felt that the biggest mistake of the game came with the early goal from Atlanta, “The biggest mistake that we had tonight was giving up the goal in the [second] minute, because we were prepared for them, ready for them, and we took a bad approach to that first goal,” “That’s unfortunate, because that derailed the rest of the game.”
Atlanta head coach Gerardo Martino was jubilant about the victory, however addressed the fact that playing a team that picks up early red cards can really change the dynamics of the match.
“It’s different. The other day, we played 11 on 11. Today, after the second goal, we played against a team of 10 players and after the third goal, a team with nine player.”, said Martino, “I don’t think it’s fair to make an analysis of that.”
Atlanta United will host Orlando City SC Saturday, September 16th at 4 pm ET in Atlanta, while the New England Revolution will travel to Sporting Kansas City Saturday with an 8:30 pm ET scheduled kick.
