Tools to the Match: How Atlanta opens Best-of-3 series with a victory ...

After a thrilling penalty shootout victory in the Wild Card game earlier this week, Atlanta United travels to Fort Lauderdale for Game 1 of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 series against top-seeded Inter Miami CF. The 5-Stripes are riding high after advancing past CF Montréal on Tuesday night. Brad Guzan made a crucial stop in the shootout, while all five Atlanta players converted to set up a showdown with the 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners. There is no aggregate scoring in this Best-of-3 series, meaning each match has to end with a winner. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, we will go straight to a penalty shootout to determine a winner, just like this past Tuesday night. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by Home Depot against Inter Miami CF.

The 5-Stripes have had a resurgence of form on the road the last couple of months this season. Atlanta is riding a five-match unbeaten run on the road into Friday night’s Game 1 matchup. They have scored four goals in their last two road matches, winning 2-1 at Orlando on Decision Day, while securing a 2-2 result at Montréal. The attack has to continue to play at a high level in this series in order to advance past Inter Miami.

One of the key areas will be transition play and Atlanta has to take advantage of its opportunities when they come. That was one of the keys to the 3-1 road win at Miami back on May 29. Saba Lobjanidze scored a brace while Jamal Thiaré found a third as Atlanta took advantage of its opportunities to defeat a full-strength Miami side. If Atlanta can be clinical in transition on Friday night, they will give themselves a chance to secure the win.

Inter Miami has been a juggernaut during the MLS Regular Season. They set a new points record and scored a league-high 79 goals in 34 matches. There is no doubt that Miami’s attack always begins with Lionel Messi. The Landon Donovan MVP Finalist had 36 goal contributions in just 19 matches played. His longtime attacking running mate, Luis Suárez, finished with 20 goals and nine assists himself. Disrupting those passing connections in and around the box will be one of the big keys to Atlanta’s defense in this match. Even when the ball goes out wide to players like Jordi Alba on the left or Julian Gressel on the right, Atlanta’s defense needs to track Messi’s late arriving runs in the box. If the 5-Stripes can stay compact defensively, they have a chance to earn a victory in the opening match of this series.

One of the keys to Atlanta’s success in the last three matches has been scoring the first goal and playing with the lead. Over the course of the season, Atlanta is 9-3-3 (W-L-T) when scoring first, while their record when allowing the first goal is just 1-11-7 this season. When the 5-Stripes hold a lead into the halftime break, they are 6-0-2 on the season. Despite this being the third match in seven days, Atlanta’s players will be looking to capitalize on the momentum they have created early and find a way to take the lead against Miami.

One of the players the 5-Stripes will look towards creating those scoring opportunities is Alexey Miranchuk. The midfielder ranks among the league’s best in chances created since the beginning of October. His 11 chances created are tied for third in MLS over the course of this past month. If Miranchuk can create more opportunities for his teammates in this one, and Atlanta capitalizes on those chances, it will come home with a series lead.

Fans can tune in for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV on Friday night at 8:30 pm ET when the action kicks off at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. To hear the action on radio, tune into STAR 94 (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).