Atlanta United vs. DC United Prediction, Preview and Odds - 9/18/21
Atlanta has two straight wins, both in routs, and they host a DC United club that is unbeaten in their last three matches.
DC United is coming off a blowout shutout win and they are in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference only one point clear of Atlanta. They have scored seven goals in their last three matches and have scored the third-most goals in the East on the season.
Atlanta has killed it in their last two matches where they have kept a clean sheet in both and have totaled seven goals. They are just behind DC and they beat them in the Nation’s Capital 2-1 on August 22.
Kamara Lights it Up
In DC United’s last match, they beat the Chicago Fire 3-0 where Ola Kamara had a hat trick with two of the goals coming on penalties. DC got the win despite narrowly losing the time of possession battle and while they only had three shots on target, they only allowed Chicago one shot on target.
Kamara now leads the MLS with 16 goals and he has scored a goal in three straight matches where he has totaled five goals. No other player for United has more than four goals and Julian Gressel leads the club with five assists. DC has a goal differential of +6 on the season and with their last win, they evened their record with 10 wins and 10 losses to go with four draws.
Two Impressive Showings
Atlanta has won their last two matches where they have not given up a goal and scored seven. In their last match they were at home and laid a 4-0 beat down on FC Cincinnati. Josef Martinez scored twice and Luiz Araújo and Ezequiel Barco each notched a goal. Atlanta controlled the match in time of possession 61% to 39% and they had more shots (15-11) and three times as many shots on target (9-3).
Martinez leads the club with eight goals and Barco and Marcelino Moreno have combined for 13. Barco and Brooks Lennon are tied for the team lead with four assists apiece. The team has played great in the midfield in this match and did so in their recent win over DC United in August in the Nation’s Capital last month. DF Ronald Hernández and Franco Ibarra are both out of this match.
Pick: Atlanta -102
Both teams in this Eastern Conference match are coming off clean sheets wins and Atlanta has scored seven goals and conceded none in their last two matches. They beat DC on their pitch on August 22nd and they will get the win again in their house. Atlanta has played great in the midfield as of late and have taken advantage of scoring chances. While I do not see them scoring many goals in this one, they will score more than one. On the other side of the coin, I see the Atlanta D continuing to play well and they will win this match and pass DC in the standing in the East.
Total: Over 2.5 goals.
I am going with the Over in this match and that is not a tough call. While each club is coming off a shutout win DC United scored three goals in their last match and Atlanta has scored seven goals in their last two matches. Each team is looking for a playoff push and each will push forward on the attack. Atlanta has been in better form in the middle of the pitch and they will come up with more scoring opportunities. I do not see a big-time high-scoring affair in this one but there will be no clean sheets and the Over is the pick.