PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 03: Johan Venegas #11 of Minnesota United tries to get past Diego Chara #21 of Portland Timbers during the first half of the game at Providence Park on March 3, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
MLS 2017 Starts With Two New FC’s
This March, the new 2017 MLS soccer season kicked off with two new teams Minnesota United FC and Atlanta United FC. These two teams make the MLS teams count to 22, adding one team from both Eastern and Western conference. With their inclusion, MLS will become more interesting and challenging compared to last season.
Atlanta United FC, coached by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, started their MLS campaign with a home match against New York Red Bulls. However, it did not go well for Minnesota fans as they lost the match 2-1. Asad gave Atlanta an advantage by scoring a goal in the 25th minute. But NY Red Bulls dominated the second half and scored two goals at 76 and 82 minutes by Royer and Walkes respectively. Although the stats show that Atlanta had more ball possession in the match, it was the goal by Walkes that kicked them out of the match.
Minnesota United FC, coached by Adrian Heath, played away their first match with Portland Timbers and ends it, loosing terribly by conceding 5 goals. The match started well for Minnesota and the first half was competitive with only one goal from Olum of Portland. But here comes the action-packed second half. Within 2 minutes of the second half, Valeri scored one more goal for Portland. At 79th minute, Ramirez scored a goal for Minnesota, trying to have that come back and win the match.
But after that, Valeri immediately scored one more goal from penalty. Minnesota lost all their hopes of winning the match. The two extra time goals from Fernando Adi proved fatal for Minnesota and conceded total 5 goals in the opening of the MLS season.
Last Sunday, Minnesota hosted Atlanta for the first meeting of this two new teams and their first home match. However, the match did not go as planned for them and they lost terribly by 6 goals. The show had started somewhat wrong for Minnesota as they conceded 2 goals only within 13 minutes. To make things worse, Minnesota conceded one more goal within 30 min. By the end of first half, Kevin Molino scored the first goal for their team and kept the hopes alive for Minnesota fans.
In the second half, Atlanta hardly saw any protest from Minnesota and scored 3 goals. With a trick of a hat, Ramirez becomes the top goal scorer in the MLS for the time being. The team showed aggressive attacks throughout the match. The five goals from Ramirez and Almiron have sent some chills among the defenders of other MLS teams.
Atlanta’s teamwork, combination at play and confidence of was also very much noticeable.
With such unfortunate show, Minnesota is now in the bottom position and become the first team in MLS to concede 5 goals in back to back matches. To make things worse, Minnesota goalkeeper John Alvbage had a serious leg injury, carried out by stretcher and had to be replaced at the 86th minute of the game.
Next weekend, Atlanta will play their home match against Chicago Fire while Minnesota will face Colorado Rapids. MLS 2017 Starts With Two New FC’s, who will dominate?
