Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda made significant changes to his side’s setup before kick-off vs. Philadelphia Union- and it worked to a tee.
The Five Stripes typically play with a four-at-the-back system with the 4-2-3-1 formation. But after losing 4-0 on the road to New York Red Bulls and conceding the joint-most goals in the league, Pineda and his staff had to change something – or risk falling further down the Eastern Conference table.
The change came in the form of implementing a “back-five” – five defenders out of possession, three defenders while in possession. It marked the first time that Atlanta supporters have seen the formation since 2021.
The center-backs selected, from left to right, Luis Abram, Juanjo Purata, and Ronald Hernandez (who is usually deployed at right-back), were excellent on the day, limiting the explosive Philly attack that boasts Julian Carranza, Mikel Uhre, and Daniel Gazdag to just one shot on target. This was all done without Atlanta’s best defensive option, Miles Robinson, who is with the USMNT at the Gold Cup.
“We have been conceding many of goals this year and I felt that just having an extra number there and without sacrificing the buildup and the way we play, and play from the back, how we can do that to be a bit more solid,” Pineda said in a post-game interview.
“And I think it worked. I think of course there are moments where we were stretched and things like that, but I know allowing against this team only one shot on target is a massive accomplishment for me.”
Thiago Almada shined as usual with one goal and one assist, but right-back Brooks Lennon – who played mainly as a right wing-back/attacking full-back in this game – was everywhere on his side of the field, and contibuted with a deserve goal to seal the three points for Atlanta.
“I was really impressed with everybody’s performance tonight,” Lennon said. “Playing in a back-5, that is a new formation for us, and you saw that we kept a clean sheet, which is the most important part for a defender.”
“I was really happy with how we played, took care of the ball in certain areas of the field, and we didn’t have any stupid giveaways in our own final third to give [Philadelphia] opportunities, so I am proud of our performance, and we have to keep building from here.”
Atlanta now sits in sixth in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 21 games played. Atlanta hits the road for their next game against Montreal on July 8 as they look to build on a solid defensive performance.
