Video Assisted Review: Atlanta United-RSL

Well, that went better.

Atlanta United took down Real Salt Lake with a performance that gave us a glimpse of what this team can do when the effort level is high and the tactics provide a young team with a sense of security. 

On the docket for today’s rewatch: Ronaldo Cisneros splitting the back line, width from the fullbacks and the space it creates and other generally positive things except for one unmarked header in the box.

Cisneros’ movement at striker

Ronaldo Cisneros got on the end of three direct, vertical passes that led to shots in the first half. Two of them went in the net. 

Cisneros isn’t doing anything magical here. He’s simply timing runs that split RSL’s two center backs, neither of whom has been a first-choice starter. Erik Holt and Johan Kapelhoff have started just 13 games total between the pair this year. That’s not to discourage you from celebrating Cisneros’ brace, though. It’s the kind of run and the kind of direct pass Atlanta United simply hasn’t found in the majority of their attacking moments this season. And the last season. And even the season before that. Josef’s ACL injury and inherent issues in the attacking DNA of the team (see: hesitancy to move off the ball) have made connections like this a rarity. 

It’s clear that he hasn’t been finding those connections on the wing. In fact, he seems like a totally different player at striker in general. His touch is better, he’s more confident, and he maybe even looks a little taller but I might be imagining things there. 

The movement is the key, though. Not only does it create opportunities for himself, but it opens up opportunities for his teammates as well. When he featured at striker for a stretch earlier in the season, his runs consistently dragged him into the Primary Assist Zones (edges of the box near the end line) and led to opportunities for cutback passes into the middle of the box. 

He offers something different than Josef, who seems content these days to drop deeper and take on a few false nine-esque responsibilities. And it might be the kind of different that Atlanta United needs against teams playing a high line. 

Per Second Spectrum’s tracking data, Ronaldo Cisneros made 21 attacking runs against Real Salt Lake that challenged the back line, i.e. runs in behind. Josef Martinez against Austin’s mid-block and high line? Nine. Josef, as a striker, ran in behind less than Felipe Martins. That’s not good enough. 

Three center backs is for the children 

In particular, Atlanta United’s young full backs. 

Aiden McFadden and Caleb Wiley both routinely got forward and spread RSL’s back line thin with ease and confidence. We mentioned Cisneros’ runs challenging the back line earlier and Wiley and McFadden weren’t far behind him, both making 19 runs in behind a piece. 

Wiley said afterward that having a back three made him more comfortable with getting forward and it showed. Him and McFadden each had a little less to worry about defensively and it allowed them to make a difference in attack. 

It happened all night but you don’t have to look further than a play we’ve already watched. Look at the spacing here on Cisneros’ second shot of the game. 

McFadden and Wiley both push up and force RSL’s back line into a tough decision. Their two center backs are busy dealing with Cisneros while the full backs are having to choose between worrying about the wings or Matheus Rossetto and Thiago Almada making a run toward goal in the half-spaces. Eventually, the ball ends ups with Cisneros as Rossetto, Wiley and McFadden fill into the box. 

This is excellent from Atlanta and extremely encouraging. This kind of spacing happened repeatedly on Wednesday and Wiley and McFadden’s movement made it effective. The next step is finding McFadden and Wiley with diagonals that change the field and drag back lines around. Atlanta seemed a bit hesitant to play those passes for whatever reason despite the pair generally being in space. 

Atlanta United *mostly* dealt with crosses

It’s pretty clear what RSL’s plan ended up being in attack. Atlanta United generally had a numbers advantage at the back against Rubio Rubin and Justin Meram in what vaguely resembled a 4-4-2 at times and RSL rightly poured in crosses. 

Atlanta United entered Wednesday night the third-worst team in the league at defending crosses by expected goals allowed. They’ve had consistent communication issues at the back when it comes to marking and dealing with balls in the air. 

For example…

To be fair to the back line though, that’s by far the biggest chance they allowed. Kappelhof’s goal clocked in at .32 xG. The next biggest RSL chance came in at just .05 xG. That’s not bad against a team that played in 24 crosses. RSL created just five chances off of those 24 crosses and only one was truly threatening. 

It had to be a confidence boost for Atlanta to survive that kind of bombardment late in the game. 

In general, the whole night had to be a confidence boost. It showed that this team can earn results when the effort level is equal to the occasion. In most cases, that means their talent will win out. 

I mean, just look at how skillfully this team plays in dark times. It's like they're seeing something we can't.