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UNITE & CONQUER: What you need to know about Atlanta United

By Wilton Jackson

Atlanta's Hector Villalba (15) looks to pass the ball during the playoff match between Atlanta United and Columbus Crew on October 26, 2017 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. 

By Wilton Jackson

ATLANTA — Atlanta United looks to bounce back at home against D.C United on Sunday after losing 4-0 to the Houston Dynamo.

Thousands of fans are expected to pack Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the home opener to cheer on the five stripes.

TRENDING STORIES:

Missed the preseason games? Not a problem.

Get to know the Atlanta United players before their first home game:

#10 Miguel Almirón – Midfielder

  • Almirón finished third in scoring, recording nine goals in the 2017 season
  • Finished second in total shots (84) taken in 2017
  • Finished second in shots on goal with 35
  • Led the team in assists with 14

#22 Mikey Ambrose – Defender

  • Ambrose started two games at left back and made seven appearances in the 2017 season

#8 Ezequiel Barco – Midfielder

  • Barco signed with Atlanta United as a Young Designated Player on Dec. 10, 2017

#21 George Bello – Defender

  • Bello signed as a Homegrown Player with Atlanta United on June 17, 2017 with the deal becoming effective Jan. 1, 2018
  • He was born in Abuja, Nigeria, and moved to Douglasville, at a young age
  • He joined the Atlanta United Academy in 2016.

#30 Andrew Carleton – Midfielder

  • Carleton made his team debut in the 86th minute of 4-1 match against Houston on May 20
  • He's a native of Powder Springs

#2 Franco Escobar – Defender

  • Escobar has spent his entire professional career in Argentina's Primera Division with Newell's Old Boys

#26 Jon Gallagher – Forward

  • Gallagher was a three-year starter at Notre Dame.

#4 Greg Garza -- Defender

  • Garza joined Atlanta United on loan from Club Tijuana and made 26 appearances and 25 starts in his first season in MLS
  • He scored two goals and added five assists
  • He was voted to participate in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game

#5 Leandro González Pirez – Defender

  • González Pirez started 32 games at center back
  • He recorded one goal and three assists

#20 Chris Goslin – Midfielder

  • Chris Goslin became the second Homegrown Player in Atlanta United history when he signed with the club

#24 Julian Gressel – Midfielder

  • Gressel finished fifth in shots, behind Yamil Asad, who was acquired by D.C. United
  • Finished fourth in assists with nine

#1 Brad Guzan – Goalkeeper

  • Finished second on the team in saves with 38.

#13 José Hernández – Defender

  • Hernandez has spent his entire professional career at Caracas FC of Venezuela's Primera Division

#27 Mitch Hildebrandt – Goalkeeper

  • Hildebrandt joins Atlanta United after spending the last two seasons with FC Cincinnati of the United Soccer League

#25 Alec Kann – Goalkeeper

  • Led the team in saves with 56

#32 Kevin Kratz – Midfielder

  • Kratz was traded to United on Dec. 11, 2016

#23 Lagos Kunga – Forward

  • Kunga is from Atlanta and was signed as a homegrown player on June 17

#18 Jeff Larentowicz – Midfielder

  • The midfielder made 33 appearances and 30 starts in 2017

#7 Josef Martinez – Forward

  • Martinez lead the team in scoring, recording 19 goals in 2017
  • Finished third in total shots with 67
  • Finished third in shots on goal with 32

#16 Chris McCann – Midfielder

  • McCann made 23 appearances and nine starts in 2017

#6 Darlington Nagbe – Midfielder

  • Nagbe was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
  • He joins United after spending his entire professional career with the Portland Timbers

#3 Michael Parkhurst – Defender (Captain)

  • Parkhurst made 33 starts in 2017
  • He was voted an MLS All-Star for the fifth time in his career

#12 Miles Robinson – Defender

  • Atlanta United selected Miles Robinson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft

#29 Oliver Shannon – Midfielder

  • Shannon was a four-year started at Clemson University

#19 Brandon Vazquez – Forward

  • Vazquez appeared in 13 games in 2017
  • He has one goal and one assist

#15 Hector Villalba – Forward

  • Villalba finished second in goals in 2017 with 13
  • Led the team in total shots with 86
  • Led the team in shots on goal with 44
  • Finished third in assists with 11 assists

#28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu – Midfielder

  • Wheeler-Omiunu was selected with the No. 2 pick in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft
  • He was a four-year starter at Harvard

#9 Romario Williams – Forward

  • Williams joined United from Montreal Impact in 2016
  • He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft

#14 Sal Zizzo – Defender

  • Zizzo has more than 160 MLS appearances with four different teams

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