Two of many gratifying things for Atlanta United in its 4-0 win over Chattanooga on Saturday were the results of its Designated Players and the highlights provided by two of its youngest players.
The result was mostly assumed before the game because Chattanooga plays in the fourth division of the American soccer pyramid, while Atlanta United’s roster is composed of players with experience MLS, Argentina, England and Mexico, among places. And because manager Gerardo Martino used almost every player on his roster, it’s difficult to pass judgments on chemistry because so many players were shuttling in and out.
“The score isn’t the most important thing,” Martino said. “The most important is to see a team in the first and second half with clear ideas of how we want to play.”
But there were numerous individual moments that when put together are substantive.
The first was the Designated Players, those who have the largest salaries and therefore are expected to produce results.
Midfielder Miguel Almiron pulled the strings for the offense. He would pop into spaces to receive the ball, smartly using a technique to trap it to keep it from bouncing away on the artificial turf, and then finding a player running to space. Chattanooga’s players tried to disrupt his rhythm with aggressive tackles, some of which resulted in fouls.
After Kenwyne Jones cleared a cross, it was Almiron’s long run with the ball that eventually led to Hector Villalba’s opening goal. Villalba was the first to sign as a Designated Player. As did Almiron, Villalba also showed flashed. Already considered among the fastest players in the MLS, Villalba used that speed in the first half to almost get away from several Chattanooga defenders, one of whom fouled him to stop his progress.
The third Designated Player, Josef Martinez, came on as a sub in the first half and stayed in the 11 for the start of the second half. He moved to the lone striker role for the final 45 minutes that was played by Jones in the first half.
Martinez had four good chances to score, putting away one with a headed goal from point-blank range after a nice pass from Julian Gressel.
“In reality, that the DP’s are involved a lot is something that’s going to improve the team,” Martino said.
The other highlights were provided by Yamil Asad, a 22-year-old midfielder from Argentina, and Andrew Carleton, a 16-year-old midfielder from Powder Springs.
Asad started and scored the second goal on a brilliant shot that curled over Chattanooga’s goalkeeper and into the top corner of his net.
“I think it was a fast play, I just had time to control it and shoot,” he said.
His work defensively tracking back was also solid.
Carleton received the most cheers, probably by virtue of his hometown and the fact that he is one of several who are considered the franchise’s future.
He started with two passes that ripped open Chattanooga’s defense, continued by stealing the ball from a Chattanooga defender, putting the ball into space to Kevin Kratz, who chipped a cross into the path of the sprinting Carleton, who eventually scored.
The awareness to steal the ball, make the pass and then the run are unusual for such a young player and are examples of why club teams in Europe were interested in signing him before he agreed to become Atlanta United’s first Homegrown Player. Lastly, his work pressuring Chattanooga resulted in the pass from Gressel to Martinez for the goal.
“It was a dream come true just to get on the field and be able to play,” Carleton said. “I was happy with how the team played and how I was able to perform and get on the score sheet and contribute to the team.”
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