ATL Standard

As Atlanta United and Major League Soccer (MLS) develop deeper knowledge and use of data analytics, a new weekly content series will examine specific metrics valued by the club. This week's focus is on Pedro Amador's defensive contributions, presented by MARTA.

Jay Fortune captured headlines by scoring the game-winning goal against Charlotte FC, securing three road points for Atlanta United and a key shutout in the final leg of the season. However, another standout performer was fullback Pedro Amador.

In the recent win over Charlotte, Amador delivered a strong defensive performance with five tackles and five interceptions, ranking among the highest in MLS for the week. His combined total of 10 tackles and interceptions was the second-most for any player in MLS.

After the match, Amador celebrated his achievement on Instagram, highlighting his top-10 ranking in defensive duels tracked by MLS. His efforts contributed to holding Charlotte FC to less than one expected goal (0.9), leading to Atlanta's first clean sheet since June 19 and their fifth of the season.

Atlanta United values ball-winning actions like those recorded by Amador as they can lead to transition moments and chances for an attack-minded team. Amador joined Atlanta United during the secondary transfer window, replacing Caleb Wiley who transferred to Chelsea in the English Premier League earlier this summer.

The Portuguese defender quickly adapted to his new role at left fullback, debuting during Leagues Cup against D.C. United and starting against Santos Laguna. Although Atlanta did not advance past the group stage of Leagues Cup, a subsequent three-week break allowed Amador to acclimate further before making his first MLS appearance against L.A. Galaxy.

Before joining Atlanta United, Amador had a solid career in Portugal’s first and second divisions with 114 professional appearances. At 25 years old, he brings both experience and potential to the team.

“I’m an intelligent player,” Amador said at his introductory press conference. “I can play good passes. Someone who likes to play with my teammates, and I think I’m a fast player.”

Offensively, Amador has shown potential as well. In a match against L.A. Galaxy, he contributed to one of Atlanta’s best combinations that led to an offsides call but demonstrated his ability to support both defense and attack effectively.

Atlanta United's Data Scientist & Analyst Arjun Balaraman contributed alongside Data Engineer Akshay Easwaran. Motion Graphics Producer and Video Editor Khoury Kennedy provided video edits accompanying this story.

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