Atlanta United will look upon its second game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with fond memories, but the New England Revolution will want to forget it ever happened.
The home club scored early and often as the Revs wittled themselves down to nine players before the half time whistle sounded. Their 7-0 demoliton of New England puts them in excellent position to qualify for the playoffs as the end of the regular season draws near.
The Five Stripes got the jump on their opponents early on and never looked back. It all started in the second minute when Josef Martinez collected a through-ball from Miguel Almiron along the left wing and proceeded to shred the flustered Revolution back line and sneak a shot inside the near post from a very tight angle.
The nightmare continued for the Revs in the 14th minute when Xavier Kouassi stomped on Yamil Asad’s heel from behind and proceeded to clatter into him as he hobbled towards the ball. After a lengthy chat with the VAR, Baldomero Toledo brandished the red card and Kouassi was off.
Martinez found his second from the penalty spot in the 31st minute after Je-Vaughn Watson handled in the penalty area. His hat trick came eight minutes later, again from twelve yards away, after Antonio Milnar Delamea reached a hand out to deny a clear goal in the six yard box. He, too, was sent off for his trouble.
The first-half destruction was completed with a close range finish from Anton Walkes just before the half time whistle.
The second half was merely a formality, but the hosts decided to tack on more goals anyway. Atlanta United continued its dominance against their shorthanded foes by adding a fifth on the night on a 70th minute free kick from Kevin Kratz. The sixth came at the stroke of 73 minutes with a well placed roller off the foot of Asad that found its way inside the far post. The seventh and final tally came in the final miniute with a tap in from Hector Villalba.
The victory helped Atlanta United move past the New York Red Bulls into fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 42 points, three points behind the Chicago Fire for third place with a pair of games in hand. Next up for Atlanta United is a home date with Orlando City SC on Saturday afternoon.
The Revs will be forced to lick their wounds with the knowledge they are six points back of a playoff spot with only six games left to play. They return to action on Saturday when they make the trek out to Children’s Mercy Park to face Sporting Kansas City.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Josef Martinez scored the early goal to set the tone and then maintained his composure from the penalty spot twice in an eight minute span. It was a very productive Wednesday night for the Venezuelan.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Josef Martinez’s goal in the second minute was an early dagger, but the Revs didn’t truly take themselves out of the match until the second red card. It’s hard to blame Delamea for leaving a hand raised on his sliding block attempt, but the clear and obvious red card ended any chance of a Revolution comeback.
MATCH TO FORGET
Je-Vaughn Watson’s night lasted all of 14 minutes before his violent conduct red card sent him to an early shower and set the entire tone for the destruction of his team.
Glorious. As a fan I love watching my team play. Their touches are so good and the passing is first or second touch and precise really hard to defend. The high press combined with technical ability. With the exception of TFC and maybe NYC they are just on another level from the rest of MLS. Martinez is back, new home stadium, games in hand, the rest of the season is gonna be fun. Amazes me what they put together for an expansion team and makes me wonder what our front office is capable of given several years of player scouting and acquisition.
It was really clear that NE game plan was to come out and be very physical with Atlanta to throw us off our game. Other teams have done this too but NE was getting dangerous with some of their challenges that could have legitimately led to injury. I was happy to see a MLS ref give cards for the dangerous challenges and take control of the game early to protect the more technical team rather than reward the more brutish style that is all to common in MLS sometimes.
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We don’t always get as favorable a ref on card interpretation or one that calls fouls and takes control of the game and we seem to struggle more in those types of games when a ref is allowing the physicality or if the opponent knows how to play physical without being reckless and dangerous. DC United has us pretty figured out on this actually.
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Biggest bright side for me was seeing a MLS ref protecting technicality rather than allowing the brutish play that has been overlooked and rewarded throughout much of MLS’ history.
Atlanta DESTROYED New England…….as if Barcelona was in town, wow. they just couldn’t keep up
sorry, “Atlanta DESTROYED New England but not as badly as Barcelona would have if they were located in north America and part of mls even though they are not”
mmm i see your point but i like Joe’s version better.