The knockout round will come early for Atlanta United and Club Santos Laguna when the two meet on Sunday in a must-win final group stage match.
Since D.C. United has already locked up group East 7 with victories against each of these clubs, the task is clear for Atlanta and Santos Laguna. No matter whether in regulation or penalty kicks, they must find the win or they will be going home — just like a knockout match.
In the midst of a turbulent summer in which they have sacked their manager and transferred out their two best players, the Five Stripes now find goals through creative winger Saba Lobzhanidze and Mexican Daniel Ríos — the former Chivas de Guadalajara striker— who put his Liga MX familiarity to good use with a brace in Atlanta’s Leagues Cup opener.
Scoring goals hasn’t been the issue for Atlanta United anyway so much as conceding them.
That will be music to the ears of Santos Laguna fans who have seen one goal resulting in one point across their opening five matches of the season. Los Guerreros will likely concede the majority of possession at Mercedes-Benz Stadium but have a route to success through their spine. If homegrown midfielder Salvador Mariscal and creative threat Franco Fagúndez can produce chances for Honduran national team captain Anthony “Choco” Lozano or talented 21-year-old Mexican Santiago Muñoz (depending on which striker starts), Santos can punish Atlanta in transition.
The goalkeeper battle will also be one to watch as Mexican international, Santos academy product, and current first-team captain Carlos Acavedo will match up with longtime USMNT international and MLS veteran Brad Guzan. Unless, Josh Cohen starts between the sticks again for Atlanta, in which case the intrigue will shift to a redemption story for the backup who will be aiming to rebound from a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss.
Neither team made the knockout rounds of the inaugural Leagues Cup last season but only one will earn the privilege of rectifying that painful memory this time around. It is win-or-go-home time in Atlanta on Sunday.
