Showdown at the Benz with LAFC for the 5 Stripes

by Madison Crews

Atlanta United is back at the Benz to face off against LAFC tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The Five Stripes hold a record of 2-1-1 against LAFC, and their last meeting ended in a 0-0 draw at BMO Stadium last June. Both Atlanta and LAFC are sitting on 99 MLS regular season wins, and both teams are looking to make it 100.

Both teams are also coming into the match after advancing to the Quarterfinals in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. Atlanta United beat Charleston Battery 5-4 on the road in penalty kicks, they will host Indy Eleven July 9. LAFC beat Loudoun United FC 3-0 and will host New Mexico United July 10.

“Winning that game against them [Charleston Battery], because we cannot forget that Charleston is the best team in the USL at the moment. They are in rhythm. They don’t rotate too much, they play a very consistent lineup all the time, and we did it with seven homegrowns,” said Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda. “I think it is really encouraging for the team and the mentality of the team to win, and we did it with 7 homegrowns. That to me is a testament of the team character. That victory in PKs, Josh Cohen saving the last two PK, Stian taking the sixth, there are many positives out of that and we have to hold on to that positivity, that grind, that mentality of those players that fought really hard Tuesday and put that together on Saturday.”

You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass or you can listen to the match on 92.9 the Game where Mike Conti and Jason Longshore will have the call. Pregame coverage will start at 6:30 p.m.