Maddie’s Version: The Baseline Is Set

Alright.

Atlanta United’s 2–0 loss in Cincinnati was never about being the finished product. It was about setting a baseline.

And honestly, I think they did.

The first half was really good. It was even. It was competitive. For about 20 to 25 minutes, Atlanta came out with energy, speed, and intent. It felt like those early 2017 matches. All gas. High line. Protagonist mindset. The issue was sustaining it.

You saw the drop. The energy that carried the first stretch didn’t quite hold. Cincinnati adjusted, started to take control, and carried that momentum into the second half. That’s the learning curve. You have to pace it. You cannot empty the tank in the first 20 minutes, especially on the road against one of the best transition teams in the league.

Báez started at left back in his Atlanta debut (photo: ATLUTD)

Individually, there were real positives.

Elías Báez was excellent, especially in the first half. Multiple recovery moments. Smart positioning. A couple of touches that prevented clear chances. For a player who had just joined training, the composure was impressive.

Tomás Jacob was my Man of the Match. His ability to read the game stood out. Not just diving into tackles, but thinking through them. Where to be. When to step. When to slot in as a third center back. When to push forward and connect play. That versatility is going to matter in this system.

Youngest starter in an Atlanta United season opener: Cooper Sanchez (photo: ATLUTD)

And Cooper Sanchez.

Seventeen years old. Did not look it. That’s the theme with these academy players. They are unafraid. The moment is not too big. The academy has done an incredible job preparing them for this level. Cooper stepped in and did exactly what was asked.

Now, the goal.

The turnover happens high up the field. That’s part of playing this way. Turnovers are going to happen. The issue is the reaction. When you play a high line and lose it in the attacking third, the response has to be immediate. You either win it back instantly or you get structured defensively right away. There was a split second where that structure was not tight enough. Against Cincinnati, that is enough.

Their counter was brilliant. It was quick. It was decisive. Kevin Denkey does what top strikers do. But Atlanta could have killed it earlier. A little more pressure. A professional foul. Something to stop the break before it became a two on one.

That’s a small detail. And small details change matches.

Man of the Match performance from Jacob in the midfield (photo: ATLUTD)

What I loved, though, was the identity.

Matt Edwards used the word “nasty” in preseason. Not reckless. Not chaotic. But aggressive. Confrontational. Making every yard uncomfortable.

You saw that.

There was fight. There was bite. Even after conceding, the energy didn’t disappear. That was something I wanted more of last season. It was there in Cincinnati.

On the attacking side, there are still connections to build. Latte Lath is getting into positions. Some of them were offside. Some were miscommunications. That has to clean up. I do think getting Alexey Miranchuk back changes the feel of the attack. He is the one who pulls strings. He brings calm and intelligence in tight spaces. That will help the connection up top.

This is still early. One preseason match was lost. New players are still adjusting. That matters.

What I’m looking for now is progression. Not perfection. Progression.

Better pacing. Faster defensive reactions after turnovers. Cleaner connections in the final third. If those things improve week to week, then this is moving in the right direction.

The baseline is there. The identity is forming.

Now it’s about building on it.

(𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓭𝓲𝓮'𝓼 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷)