Match Preview: Atlanta United vs. Real Salt Lake

 

ATLANTA (Sept. 21, 2018) – Atlanta United returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 22 when it hosts Real Salt Lake at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta enters the match in first place in the Supporters’ Shield Standings (18-5-6, 60 points) while Real Salt Lake sits in fifth place in the Western Conference (13-10-6, 45 points). The match, presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m. EST and will be televised on FOX Sports Southeast.

Atlanta will return home to play its third match in eight days after a six-point road trip that saw victories at Colorado Rapids on Sept. 15 and at San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 19. Atlanta battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the second half to come back and win 4-3. Tito Villalba and Miguel Almirón each scored a goal and Josef Martinez tallied a brace, including his 10th game-winning goal of the season in stoppage time. Martinez has now scored 30 goals through 29 matches in 2018. With the win in San Jose, the club broke the MLS away wins record (10) and equaled the single season away points record (32) in the post-shootout era.

Real Salt Lake is coming off a 1-1 draw at home against Minnesota United on Saturday, Sept. 15. Damir Kreilach scored his team-leading 11^th goal of the season to give Real Salt Lake an early lead, however Miguel Ibarra tied the match in the 84th minute for Minnesota, who then had a second goal disallowed by VAR. Real Salt Lake is unbeaten in its last four matches with three wins and a draw.

 

 

MATCH INFORMATION

Saturday, Sept. 22 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |7 p.m. (EST)

Atlanta United (18-5-6, 60 points) vs. Real Salt Lake (13-10-6, 45 points)

 

 

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

English TV | FOX Sports Southeast

Spanish Radio | La Mejor 1600 AM

English Radio | 92-9 The Game (local)

Pre-match coverage:

6 p.m.: AT&T Countdown to Kickoff (FB Live/Periscope)

6:30 p.m.: The Pre-Game show (92-9 The Game)

 

 

 

ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED

Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and became just the fourth expansion team in league history to qualify for MLS Cup Playoffs. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,035) and single-season average (48,200). Owned by one of the city’s most influential businessmen and philanthropists, Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.