MLS is Back Tournament
Group E, Matchday 4
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando FL.
Saturday, July 11th– 8:00PM ET
Major League Soccer is making its return this week, with the MLS is Back Tournament due to take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The MLS was brought to a halt back in March (internal link) by the COVID-19 pandemic which swept the globe-taking professional soccer leagues with it. Now in July, Major League Soccer is set to start again, with all 26 franchises travelling to Orlando to compete in the MLS is Back Tournament. Taking place in the Disney-owned complex, ‘MLS is Back’ is a World Cup style tournament starting on July 8.
The tournament will take place with no fans/supporters, and will begin with group stages, after which the victorious teams will move onto the knockout rounds. As well as the MLS is Back tournament, Major League Soccer are looking to resume their 2020 regular season, and a revised schedule is set to be released at a later date.
Scheduled to kick off on matchday 4 at 8:00PM ET, the fixture will show Atlanta United taking on the New York Red Bulls – 2 of the Eastern Conference’s most successful franchises going head to head in what is to be a greatly-anticipated showdown.
Atlanta United started their regular MLS 2020 season campaign strongly, recording 2 out of 2 wins placing them at the top of the Eastern conference at 6 points. The club recorded a 2-1 win in their first game of the season vs Nashville SC, but lost striker, Josef Martinez, to an ACL injury. However, the 5 stripes pulled out another 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati in their 2nd game of the MLS 2020 season, proving their worth without Martinez.
Photo: Curtis Compton
Despite the loss of the striker, who was a crucial part to the Atlanta side, the team still possess other key players that are sure to make a significant impact during the MLS is Back Tournament. One player sure to be important for the side in the Orlando tournament is Gonzalo Martinez. Although a relatively recent addition to Atlanta (he was traded to the team in 2019), he is sure to be one to watch on the field. G. Martinez, known for stepping up in pivotal moments, scored the game-winning goal in the 2019 US Open Cup final against Minnesota United.
Atlanta are seen as strong contenders for the MLS is Back Tournament title and will definitely not back down without a fight.
New York Red Bulls also had a relatively stable start to their MLS 2020 regular season. The Red Bulls took a 3-2 victory over FC Cincinnati, but only managed a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake, putting them into a respectable 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.
In their 2019 MLS season, the Red Bulls suffered an early playoffs exit, and the departure of high-profile club legends such as Bradley Wright-Phillips spelled out a potentially rocky transition season for the team. However, they seem to have adapted well to the changing team profile with their first two 2020 games.
One key player to watch out for on the field is American international Aaron Long. The USMNT centre back didn’t have the best 2019 season but seems to be back on top-form in time for the MLS is Back 2020 tournament. For the past few seasons, the defender has been linked to several rumours about a move to the English Premier League, but for now is definitely looking to make his contribution in the Orlando tournament.
Another promising player is 30-year-old midfielder Daniel Royer. The attacking player, who has been capped for the Austrian National Team 6 times, has been one of the team’s most consistent players and is definitely looking to be one of the Red Bulls’ top goal scorers.
The last time Atlanta United faced the New York Red Bulls was on July 7th 2019 and resulted in a 3-3 tie. Before that, the Red Bulls had dominated the meetups, taking 3 out of 4 wins against Atlanta.