ATL Standard

Atlanta United is set to embark on a road trip for their next two matches. On Wednesday, June 19, they will face D.C. United, led by Christian Benteke. Following that, they will travel to CITYPARK Stadium to play against St. Louis CITY SC for the first time this season.

The team recently concluded a 2-2 draw against Houston Dynamo FC in a home match, marking the first encounter between the two clubs since 2019. Despite conceding a late equalizer from Houston, Atlanta United found positives in the performance. Goals from Daniel Rios and Xande Silva, along with notable contributions from homegrown player Luke Brennan, highlighted the team's depth amid lineup changes due to international call-ups.

Xande Silva and interim head coach Rob Valentino addressed local media on Tuesday regarding preparations for the upcoming matches.

Silva scored Atlanta's second goal against Houston with a well-placed shot past Houston keeper Steve Clark. He also netted a goal against Charlotte FC earlier this month. The team has scored seven goals in their last three matches after experiencing a scoring drought.

Reflecting on their previous loss to D.C., Silva emphasized learning from past games: “We always learn after games, even if you win,” he said. “We lost that game, so we had a lot of things to improve on.” With several players away for international duty and others injured, Silva stressed focusing on available resources: “We need to focus on what we have,” he said.

Valentino provided updates on player statuses during his availability session. Edwin Mosquera is still being evaluated following an injury in Saturday’s match, while Stian Gregersen and Tyler Wolff participated in practice and await confirmation of their availability.

The team announced the transfer of forward Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul of Liga MX over the weekend. Valentino praised Giakoumakis’ impact: “He made me a better coach in a lot of ways,” he said. Despite roster changes, Valentino remains optimistic about progressing: “In reality, what I talked about last week was that is the past,” he noted.

As they prepare for D.C., Valentino acknowledged Benteke’s threat but emphasized comprehensive planning: “They played to his strengths,” he said. “We’re going to come up with a specific game plan for their team.”

Atlanta United aims to build on their recent road success following a 3-1 victory over Inter Miami FC as they seek three points against D.C. Fans can watch both away matches through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or listen via local radio stations 92.9 The Game and La Mejor.