NYCFC vs Atlanta United FC preview: Will NYCFC score on the road?

Over the last four road games, New York City FC has scored only one goal, which was in the 2-1 loss against Austin FC.  The Pigeons have been able to score at home, but it has been lights out otherwise.  The sudden change after having some success away from Yankee Stadium and Citi Field makes one wonder whether the three road wins in a row were an anomaly.

Unfortunately, their current road stretch does not get easier.  NYCFC has to face Atlanta United FC.  Some might think the Pigeons have a chance since the Five Stripes are on a three-game losing streak in Major League Soccer.  However, those losses were on the road.  Then, some might think a win is possible, for Atlanta has only four wins at home this season.  The counter-argument is that the Queens’ side has only won once in Georgia, going 1-3-3 in Major League Soccer regular season play.

NYCFC desperately needs a win though.  Truthfully, they should have won in Chicago, but the players could not find the back of the net.  Notably, as good as Alonso Martínez has been, five of his eight goals were from two matches.  Also, he has scored in five of his 16 games played.  The Pigeons desperately need him to be more consistent.  Otherwise, it might be time for Nick Cushing to let Jovan Mijatović have a shot.

It is unlikely the game will end in a win, but one can always hope.  Here is the preview of the match between NYCFC and Atlanta United FC.

Date

NYCFC and Atlanta United will play each other on Wednesday, July 17.

Time

The game is at 7:30 PM ET.                  

Location

The fixture will occur at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the game on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

Weather

It will be a warm evening in Atlanta.  At kickoff, it will be around 86 degrees with a chance of storms.  The good news is that the stadium has a retractable roof.  Even when it is open, a good portion of the stadium is covered.  If the roof is closed, then NYCFC can expect it to be cooler inside, for there is AC. In other words, the weather does not matter in Atlanta.

Injury report

Maxi Moralez is back, but five players are not available for the upcoming game.  Tayvon Gray (left leg), Malachi Jones (right leg), Kevin O’Toole (right leg), Andrés Perea (leg), and James Sands (yellow card accumulation) will not play.  Gray was considered to be a possibility, but in the end, he is on the report.

Players to watch

NYCFC fans should watch Matt Freese.  The goalkeeper will be vital if the Pigeons struggle to score.  He has to limit, and ideally, end the night with a clean sheet.  He had one over the weekend but did little work between the sticks.  Nevertheless, the Pigeons need the Freese who makes those big saves to show up.

Fans should also watch Brooks Lennon from the home team.  He leads the team with six assists and is one of the better fullbacks and wingbacks in MLS.  He is always a menace on the right side of the pitch and is always willing to get forward.  His speed is dangerous too, so NYCFC must ensure he cannot move around defenders and put crosses into the box.

Prediction

This is an NYCFC and Atlanta match, and the Pigeons are on the road.  So, the prediction is that this will either end in another 0-0 draw or 1-1 draw.  It all depends on how well the goalkeepers do and whether they can earn those clean sheets.