Atlanta United v FC Dallas: Visitors aiming to build on MLS road form

Petar Musa is hoping his FC Dallas team-mates can continue their good form on the road when they travel to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Atlanta United this weekend. 

Dallas helped head coach Eric Quill earn his first home victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City last time out, a result that saw Peter Vermes sacked. 

Los Toros currently sit seventh in the Western Conference standings, and Musa believes that if they can improve their home form, that anything is possible this campaign. 

"We had two losses at home," Musa said. "We have been good on the road, but we want to take the first three points at home tonight, and we did it.

"I'm really proud of this team. We showed good, good soccer today. We created a lot of chances, and I think in the end, we deserved to win."

There was also history in their win over Kansas for Luciano Acosta, with the 30-year-old becoming the seventh player to register 75 goals and assists in the MLS. 

"I am very happy," Acosta said post-game at Toyota Stadium.

"The truth is that at half-time I saw the stat. It's an honour to continue making history, and I am happy I got to this statistical landmark with Dallas."

Atlanta, meanwhile, edged a seven-goal thriller in their last league fixture, coming from two goals down to beat New York City FC 4-3. 

There was also a first goal for Miguel Almiron since returning to the club, though head coach Ronny Deila was more focused on his team's second-half display. 

"The way we played the last half an hour, that's what we want to be and that's where we're aiming for," Deila said.

"I'm, again, back to the process in the performance, and I'm very happy that we showed something in the second half."

Deila has endured an indifferent start to his tenure with the Five Stripes, but defender Stian Gregersen said that his new boss and his ideas were getting through to the squad. 

"We have to use our 6s more instead of playing outside, because that's a trigger for the opponent," Gregersen added. "When we play out, they will come and push us.

"We're working a lot of in the training today [on positioning], and we're going to do it this week to be able to be maximum prepared for the game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Emmanuel Latte Lath

Latte Lath recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday and now has six goal contributions (five goals, one assist) in his first six regular-season matches with Atlanta United.

He is the third player in club history to do so, after Saba Lobjanidze and Josef Martinez, with the Five Stripes hoping their new forward can continue firing this weekend. 

 

FC Dallas – Lucho Acosta

Acosta has recorded 16 goal contributions against Atlanta in regular-season MLS play (nine goals, seven assists).

Since Atlanta United joined MLS in 2017, no player has had more goal contributions against a single opponent than Acosta against the Five Stripes.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

The five all-time meetings between Atlanta and Dallas have been split with each side winning twice (D1). This will be the fourth time the sides meet in Atlanta, with the Five Stripes recording wins in two of the first three (L1).

Atlanta came from 3-1 down to beat New York City FC, 4-3, on Saturday, becoming the first team this MLS season to win a match after trailing by multiple goals.

After emerging victorious in one of their first four matches this season (D1 L2), Dallas have since won two in a row. They have not recorded three straight wins since between October and November 2020.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 49.2%

Draw – 25.6%

FC Dallas – 25.3%