Photo: Ron Soliman

The Union took care of business on Saturday evening, defeating Atlanta United 3-0 on an unusually pleasant weather night at Subaru Park.

Not only did the 10-man-Union battle through an onslaught of attacks built through Atlanta’s league record transfer Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron, the Boys in Blue were dealt a tough hand by referee Allen Chapman throughout the affair. Yet, the impressive discipline exuded by Bradley Carnell’s men guided them to an impressive short-handed shutout victory – ultimately registering Andre Blake’s 100^th clean sheet for the Club.

Setting the platform

Carnell opted for some changes to the lineup that faced NYCFC a week ago.

Nathan Harriel slid over from right back to center back. Frankie Westfield started at right back and Olwethu Makhanya was relegated to the bench. Up top, it was Bruno Damiani and Mikael Uhre, over league-leading goal scorer Tai Baribo.

This rendition of the 4-2-2-2 also featured Quinn Sullivan and Indiana Vassilev switching sides. Each operated in an inverted fashion – affording the right-footed Sullivan, and the left-footed Vassilev the option to comfortably cut inside.

The election to swap these two players definitely were a catalyst to the attack, allowing the Union to play in a more direct and vertical fashion.

“We wanted to be a little more intentional with our balls behind, with directions, more verticality to put them under [pressure].”

Both Damiani and Uhre assumed form and pressed the Atlanta center backs into pivotal errors that were the difference in this game. The pair led the lines out of possession, while Vassilev and Sullivan patrolled the wider areas and half spaces further forward, in search of second balls.

Quinn notched his first goal of the year on second ball earned off the Union’s relentless work in the box.

The midfielder’s chest and volley off the recycled free kick was the perfect bit of quality necessary to make up for a what was a frustrating lead-up to the goal. A whole host of swings and misses and physical challenges exhibited exactly how badly the Union wanted to win this match.

Damiani’s work rate and physicality on this play, along with many other instances in the game, were a large part of “setting the platform” for the match in the first forty-five minutes, as Carnell keenly noted.

“I think in terms of our verticality, the way we wanted to play direct, the way we were dueling for second balls, the way we were trying to put them under pressure, and exactly how the first half unfolded, is exactly what we needed.”

Second Frame

As the pressure from the Union’s front four persisted, Atlanta would continue to struggle to breach the Union’s defense.

Danley Jean-Jacques noticeably benefitted from this, as the six stepped up to jump in front of Atlanta passes throughout the tilt. His 3 interceptions led the match.

The Haitian also knocked in his first goal as a Union player to cap off a strong defensive showing.

Damiani, again, showed up on this goal with the secondary assist – checking back as an outlet to give Wagner the option to play direct. His ability to connect in transition was also praised by Carnell.

“He does so much work – in and around our build-up play, holding up the ball, fighting, creating our transitions. A lot of our transitions are created by his, the two strikers’, pressure on the center backs.”

Shortly later, Jovan Lukic was banished to the locker room after a second caution in the 56th mintue. Lukic, of all players, was the only player who forewent the discipline Carnell spoke about multiple times in his presser.

Down to ten men, Carnell subbed in Makhanya for Uhre, and shifted the formation to a 5 man back line. Wagner and Westfield assumed wing-back roles, tasked with snuffing out any of the added width that Atlanta would look to play with.

As Atlanta were able to gain a little more steam in their attack, the Union looked to connect passes forward quickly to put the game on ice.

Baribo was subbed on for Damiani to play the lone striker up top, and it wasn’t too long before the league leading scorer added a seventh goal to his account.

Sullivan’s beauty of a cross was met perfectly by a leaping Baribo, whose header was placed in the left panel of the net.

And that was all she wrote. The Union impressively closed out the match, ultimately holding a very talented Atlanta team scoreless.

It was a complete team effort, with every single player contributing to the victory.

The manager’s press conference was heavily sprinkled with really compelling nuggets about his team’s play. He was clearly happy with the on-field product, even if it meant winning ugly.

“To get to that point, as a group we had to commit to exactly what we wanted to do against a really talented Atlanta team,” Carnell said. “We managed to stay disciplined and aggressive… We kind of made the game what we wanted it to be.”