Minnesota to be tested by red-hot Atlanta

Nothing like a 3-0 loss to bring a team back to Earth after winning two straight games.

Such was the case for Minnesota United when the team fell to the New York Red Bulls last week. Now, it’s time for Minnesota to try to right the ship as it plays host to Atlanta United on Saturday.

Game time is 8 p.m. ET at TCF Bank Stadium.

The young Minnesota team (2-2-0) ran into a buzzsaw last week in New York against a talented side.

“We’ll benefit from playing against one of the best teams in the league,” said Minnesota coach Adrian Heath. “It was baptism under fire.”

It doesn’t look to be any easier this week.

Atlanta (2-1-0) enters the game with its own two-game win streak. After dropping a 4-0 game to the Houston Dynamo to open the season, Atlanta came back with a 3-1 win over D.C. United, followed by a 4-1 thumping of Vancouver before getting last week off.

Atlanta brings in one of the more prolific offensive units in the league, as evidenced by its seven goals in the last two games.

“Attacking-wise, they have an embarrassment of riches,” said Heath. “They have the most dynamic team in MLS. If you give them time, they will hurt you.”

In the win over Vancouver, Josef Martinez recorded his fourth hat trick in just 23 MLS matches. Along with Miguel Almiron, the duo forms an elite attack.

But while the attack is lethal, it does tend to open things up for teams to attack on defense.

“There are certain things that they do that do give you a little bit of hope,” said Heath. “(They) leave space to counter. There are certain things that I think we can maybe have a look at, try to exploit.”

–Field Level Media