Availability report and match preview: Rivalry US Open Cup match on the horizon

After choosing up a win for the first time in a run of matches, there isn’t any one happier to be enjoying once more a pair days later than the 5-Stripes.

Atlanta United did not even have a lot time to ruminate over their 2-1 street win over Toronto FC Saturday. In reality, the crew educated Sunday and Monday in preparation for his or her quickest turnaround of the season — simply two full days of relaxation. It all leads as much as a match that will demand the most, a rivalry bout with Charlotte FC in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Round of 16. Kickoff is about for 7 pm ET Tuesday night time on CBS Sports Network and Paramount Plus, and now’s a greater time than ever for the 5-Stripes to construct some momentum.

“[The Toronto match] is a result we’ve been searching for now for some games,” Martino mentioned. “It shows that we’re close. I think it will emotionally help us because it’s good for the team to build belief in what we’re doing. We have to understand what it means and not let it have too much importance.”

New signing Tomás Jacob, brought it at the tail end of 2025is again to well being and eligible in response to the membership’s availability report Monday.

The remainder of the harm record stays per Friday’s iteration, with one addition. Miguel Almirón remains to be nursing a knee harm, Sergio Santos working to get well from a calf concern and Steven Alzate is coping with an adductor drawback. Cayman Togashi is out for Tuesday’s match after injuring his ankle throughout the weekend’s match. He was compelled off the pitch in the

Head coach Tata Martino throughout media availability Monday mentioned the coaching workers and Almirón are working collectively to see if the Paraguayan will be match for Saturday’s dwelling match in opposition to CF Montréal.

Tristan Muyumba was the different 5-Stripe to talk to media after coaching Monday, becoming after his first objective of the 2026 season lifted Atlanta United to a win.

The French midfielder is settling into the function as a No. 6. He mentioned he looks like he is constructing the proper habits to make an influence on matches. Even as the solely true defensive midfielder in Martino’s system, Muyumba nonetheless gave has the freedom to make runs ahead into the assault.

“We have to find the right moment when we can make those kind of runs [into] the box, and also when we have to keep more balance,” Muyumba mentioned. “It’s definitely something we need to bring more player in the last third of the pitch.”

The 5-Stripes have been additional weary to not get hit on the counterattack in latest matches, however that typically comes at a price to the assault. Without numbers ahead, gamers run out of choices to move to. Muyumba talked about that improved collective angle amongst the midfielders, to be prepared to get ahead, and additionally shouted out that he knew the others would cowl for him when he did. That belief is how a second like Muyumba’s objective occurs.

His two younger companions in the center of the park, Jay Fortune and Cooper Sanchez, each performed equally pivotal roles in the end result. Sanchez obtained the secondary help for Muyumba’s end, and Fortune drew the foul that resulted in Alexey Miranchuk’s free kick objective.

Muyumba spoke about how he is felt a accountability to mentor the youthful gamers in his place group this 12 months.

“Those guys are my boys,” Muyumba mentioned. “In the locker room, I got Jay on my right, Will [Reilly] on my left, and now Cooper is next to Will. We have a beautiful relationship between each other. We talk a lot on the field, outside the field, even if it’s not about football.”

Atlanta United’s midfielders are rounding into kind at the proper time, and they will should be on kind in opposition to Charlotte to earn a end result.

“The middle of the field is the heart of the team, and it’s what modern football asks… [Cooper and Jay]the truth is that they’re two guys that have very important responsibilities for the team. There aren’t many teams in the league that go into games with a midfield with two Academy kids whose average age is 20.”

No introduction wanted, Atlanta United vs Charlotte FC is all the time a battle. Now throw in the added component of knockout soccer, and we have a recipe for a memorable Tuesday night time match.

Charlotte comes into the match having defeated their neighbors Charlotte Independence in the Round of 32. On the similar day, Wednesday, April 15, the 5-Stripes took down Chattanooga FC 3-1 to arrange the rivalry match in the Round of 16.

The two sides have seen one another loads of occasions in MLS play, however this will likely be the first time the two sq. off in a cup competitors.

Especially given the brief relaxation for each groups, rotation could also be anticipated. Charlotte fielded a lineup principally made up of starters in opposition to Nashville SC Saturday, and the 5-Stripes did the similar in Toronto. Still, with rivalry satisfaction on the line, nothing is about in stone till the remaining whistle blows Tuesday night time.

“We have a proposed way we want to play, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to resist other options,” Martino mentioned. “I think it’s good that we have other options that we can go to without ever losing the identity of the style we want to play.”