Philadelphia vs Atlanta: A showdown on the edge of the playoff zone

Philadelphia and Atlanta are next to each other in the standings, and their chances of making the playoffs don’t look certain yet. Will anyone be able to pick up the vital 3 points in the upcoming head-to-head encounter?

The last month has been a disappointing one for Philadelphia. The team scored only one win in 5 games and dropped to 7th place in their conference in the MLS, and at the same time, they dropped out of the CONCACAF Champions League at the semi-final stage. Union’s results were affected by numerous departures for national teams earlier this month, although Philadelphia’s overall staffing situation is one of the most favourable in the league right now. Only Ilsinho will not play against Atlanta, while Sergio Santos’ participation is questionable.

Last week, however, Philadelphia broke their losing streak and beat Orlando 3-1 at home. In the 1st half, Union held the initiative and deservedly took the lead, but their opponent restored the balance shortly after the break. Jim Curtin’s men picked themselves up again with the final whistle, scoring twice, but not all of them. Kacper Przybylko notched his double, becoming the main hero of the game.

United won 7 of their last eight regular-season games and made their way to the playoffs. The team is currently in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. The Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Barco put in a crazy performance with 11 points in 9 games. The leader of Atlanta’s attack Josef Martinez also scored a lot. And newcomer Luis Araujo blended in well after moving from Lille. As for the roster for the match against Philadelphia, Franco Ibarra, Emerson Hindman, Ronald Hernandez, and Amar Sejdic are in the sack, while Alan Franco will not play due to yellow cards.

Atlanta defeated DC United 3-2 in their last regular-season game. The first half was uneventful, with United taking the lead thanks to a free-kick. After the break, there was a physical fightback. The opponents could have restored the balance, but eventually, Martinez doubled Atlanta’s lead when he converted a one-on-one opportunity. On the whole, Gonzalo Pineda’s side did well to defend but conceded two goals after long-range shots. Ezequiel Barco was the top scorer for Atlanta, with a goal and an assist.

Last week the teams had quite productive matches, and the main reason for that was the high realization of the chances. For example, in the game against Atlanta, three goals were scored following long-range shots, and it would not have been surprising if United had come away with a clean sheet. Philadelphia are in good shape after the return of players from national teams. They deservedly achieved a draw away in the last face-to-face meeting, and now they can well count on a home win. I would suggest wagering on the following outcomes:

• Total Under 2.5 goals for 2.00;
• W1 for 1.80;
• W1 to nil for 3.70.