New York City FC are just two seasons removed from winning the MLS Cup. Unfortunately, the Sky Blues haven’t been able to kick on from their MLS Cup win in 2021 and could miss out on the playoffs entirely this season.
City are 11th in the MLS Eastern Conference and three points off the final playoff position. On Wednesday, the Sky Blues will head south to Atlanta to play the Five Stripes at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Stoppage Time Segal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/MTEu7yrxN4— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) June 18, 2023
Stoppage Time Segal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/MTEu7yrxN4
Atlanta United are sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, with 28 points from 18 matches. The Five Stripes are well off top of the table FC Cincinnati, who are running away with the conference.
Atlanta are six points ahead of 10th-place Charlotte, who are just outside the playoff places currently.
Wednesday’s match will be the second meeting between Atlanta United and New York City this season. The teams drew 1-1 in their reverse fixture in New York.
Atlanta United had Franco Ibarra sent off in the 62nd minute for a straight red card. It didn’t stop United from taking the lead in the 70th minute, however.
Giorgos Giakoumakis scored to put United into the lead, but New York came back to draw the game thanks to a Gabriel Pereira goal in the 72nd minute.
New York City went unbeaten in their last six games against Atlanta United in all competitions. The Sky Blues posted a record of three wins and three draws in those six encounters.
Wednesday night’s match could be very different, however. New York City are struggling in MLS with a mere 19 points from 18 games.
They picked up just four points from nine matches on the road and failed to win any of their last six road fixtures.
Atlanta, on the other hand, are unbeaten in six straight MLS games, with 10 points from 18 points on offer. They went unbeaten in their last three home fixtures, collecting two wins and a draw.
Giakoumakis leads Atlanta in goals with 10 this season. He scored in the reverse fixture in New York. Giakoumakis is second in MLS in scoring this term.
New York City are struggling to score goals this season. They tallied just 18 in their 18 matches. Pereira and Santiago Rodriguez combined for eight goals (four apiece) in the opening 18 matches.
Atlanta United should end their current winless streak against New York City with a 2-1 home win. United are in form and should stay that way at home.